Planning Department - City of Boston

Meet one of our Planning Department interns! Tejas worked on zoning reform this summer. He was a huge help taking inventory on the types of housing we have in the City and where there is room for opportunities. Thank you for your hard work, Tejas!

Development review and the Article 80 process can be intimidating for residents who are looking to get involved for the first time.

Shaping new developments is an important way that we can make our City welcoming and preserve our past. Who is involved really matters!

We found that the individuals already engaged with the Planning Department are not representative of the City of Boston. Check out this first picture to see who currently participates in development review versus the demographics of all City residents. This means we need to change our engagement methods to ensure development meets the needs of Boston.

We’ve learned that engagement methods matter. Expanding engagement opportunities, especially including options that require less time, will allow more people to take part in our processes.

Over the past year, Planning Department staff has been working hard to understand how to better reach residents and expand who and how people are able to take part in the development review process.

The Planning Department recommended the tentative designation of a team to redevelop public land in Dorchester, and recommended approval of three new development projects to the BPDA Board. All were approved. These projects represent approximately 131,481 square feet of development. The new projects will create 45 residential units, including seven units that are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 102 construction jobs and 161 permanent jobs. https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/news-updates/2024/08/15/planning-department-advances-new-affordable-homeow

Want to help create an amazing Beacon Park Yard? 🏙️ Join our photo walks and share your vision! Snap pics, dream big, and be part of this transformative project. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNFg069MY6jK46bJcHrk1MpfzQAzokcAIJ8aR_6SuXNwIyAA/viewform

August 26, 5 - 7 PM: Walk Along the Charles. Meeting Location: Nashua Street Park
August 27, 5 - 7PM: Allston Public Art Walk. Meeting Location: 210 Harvard Avenue, 02134
August 28, 5 - 7 PM: Imagining Cambridge Street Walk. Meeting Location: 353 Cambridge Street, 02134

Are you a teen in Dorchester and wondering how decisions that impact your neighborhood are made? Join us at the Codman Square Library on Wednesday, August 14, from 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM to learn more about urban planning!

Planning Department staff are holding a workshop with fun activities to help explain the work of the Planning Department, including the Squares + Streets initiative.

https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/calendar/2024/08/14/codman-square-four-corners-squares-streets-youth-w

This month marked the first full year of operations of Boston's new Planning Advisory Council. The PAC, established by Mayor Wu via Executive Order in 2023, is an internal coordinating body composed of key Cabinets shaping Boston's built environment. It was created to improve cross-departmental coordination and collaboration, accelerate plan implementation and set guidelines for public engagement. During its first year, the team supporting the PAC has also taken on special initiatives, including spearheading Boston's first anti-displacement strategy. The formation of the PAC is just one component of the larger transformation and modernization of planning to better serve the people of Boston.

Learn more about the work of the Planning Advisory Council:
https://www.boston.gov/departments/planning-advisory-council

Ahead of tomorrow night’s Cleary Square: Squares + Streets meeting, please take a moment to review the Squares + Streets zoning districts! The Cleary Square: Squares + Streets team is holding a virtual meeting (on August 1 from 6-8 PM) to discuss the key goals and differences between the zoning districts with the public. Bring your questions and hopes for Cleary Square!

https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/calendar/2024/08/01/squares-streets-cleary-square-zoning-districts-dee

Now is the time to share your thoughts with us about Roslindale Square: Squares + Streets! Please take time to view our draft recommendations ahead of the release of the draft Small Area Plan in early September. Fill out the online survey to give us feedback on all things from housing production and stability, to transportation, to small business support and more!

The survey is open through Wednesday, July 31.

https://www.bostonplans.org/planning-zoning/planning-initiatives/roslindale-square

The Planning Department recommended approval of five new development projects to the BPDA Board, including the renovation of White Stadium. All were approved. The newly approved development projects represent approximately 459,266 square feet. The new projects will create 484 residential units, including 99 units that are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 441 construction jobs and 58 permanent jobs.
https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/news-updates/2024/07/18/bpda-board-approves-white-stadium-project

The BPDA Board of Directors approved the White Stadium project at their July meeting.

This project will renovate, rebuild, and reimagine White Stadium for BPS athletics through a unique community oriented public-private partnership with Boston Unity Soccer Partners.

"This is a major milestone for a project that is decades overdue, finally giving BPS student athletes and community a beautiful new home at White Stadium” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This approval delivers greatly expanded hours of BPS and community use, world-class athletic and community facilities, more than an acre of additional green space opened up to the public, and guaranteed annual funding to invest in Franklin Park. I’m grateful to all the community leaders and partner organizations who continue to help us guide and improve this project that our students, neighbors, and park lovers will enjoy."

White Stadium, built in 1945, has been a cornerstone for Boston athletes and community members. However, decades of disinvestment and fire damage have left it in disrepair, lacking current safety codes and amenities for BPS athletics.

https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/news-updates/2024/07/18/bpda-board-approves-white-stadium-project

On Monday, Mayor Wu visited Courageous Sailing in Charlestown to celebrate Boston Public Schools’ 5th Quarter Learning program.

Courageous Sailing has been a tenant on Pier 4 in the Charlestown Navy Yard, which has been owned by the Boston Planning & Development Agency for almost 23 years. The organization provides kids in Boston with the opportunity to learn how to sail for free.

The City just invested $10 million to repair Pier 4 and enable Courageous to continue operations.

Join the Roslindale Square: Squares + Streets team tonight (Wednesday, 7/17) to give your feedback on draft ideas and recommendations proposed for Roslindale Square! These recommendations span the topics of housing affordability and production strategies, small business support, cultural activation, land use goals, transportation improvements and new public realm opportunities. This is a drop-in style event. Spanish interpretation services will be available.

Scroll through the slideshow for a more detailed breakdown of past stages of engagement, where we are now, and what is coming next!

https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/calendar/2024/07/17/roslindale-square-squares-streets-public-meeti

Join us on Wednesday night (7/10) at the Josephine A. Fiorentino Community Center (123 Antwerp St. Brighton, 02135) for an educational board game about Beacon Park Yard! In the game, you can guide where housing, commercial/retail uses, and other critical uses are distributed in this new space. No prior experience is necessary – we will provide a brief overview of the BPY Plan and game instructions.

Please sign up as space is limited!

https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/calendar/2024/07/10/beacon-in-a-box

ICMYI: The City of Boston's Office to Residential Conversion Program is being extended to December 2025 with added funding from the state! The state will offer $15 million in funding to incentivize larger-scale office buildings to convert to housing.

Learn more: https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/news-updates/2024/06/24/mayor-wu-announces-extension-of-office-to-resident

The BPDA Board of Directors approved the Net Zero Carbon Zoning initiative, and authorized initiatives focused on resilience and assessing land uses across the City. The Board also approved four new development projects and one renovation of a current building, representing a total of approximately 611,351 square feet. The new development projects will create 420 residential units, 232 of which are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 558 construction jobs and four permanent jobs. https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/news-updates/2024/06/13/bpda-approves-net-zero-carbon-zoning

BPDA staff, joined by MassDOT and DCR staff, will hold two informal engagements on Wednesday, June 12, to hear feedback from the community about MassDOT's Morrissey Boulevard Study and the Morrissey Commission's goals to improve mobility and climate resiliency in the area. Join us tomorrow virtually or in-person! https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/calendar/2024/06/12/morrissey-boulevard-study-bpda-coordinated-listeni

https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/calendar/2024/06/12/morrissey-boulevard-study-bpda-corridor-walking-an

Conozca a Jonil Casado, residente de Roslindale y el nuevo gerente de participación comunitaria de la Agencia de Planificación y Desarrollo de Boston (BPDA) para las comunidades de habla hispana de todo Boston. Jonil facilitará conversaciones culturalmente sensibles y se asegurará de que los grupos latinos participen de forma significativa en el proceso de planificación y construcción de una ciudad equitativa.

Los gerentes de participación comunitaria son un recurso para usted. Para comunicarse con Jonil, puede escribirle a [email protected].

-

Meet Jonil Casado, a Roslindale resident, and a new BPDA Community Engagement Manager for Spanish-speaking communities across Boston! Jonil will facilitate culturally sensitive conversations and ensure that Latinx groups are meaningfully included in the process of planning and building an equitable city.

Community Engagement Managers are a resource for you. Jonil can be reached via email at [email protected].

Over the past few months, we have been engaging community members about what’s important in Cleary Square and gathering feedback through various channels – including workshop events, walking tours, interviews, and surveys for both the public and business community. An overview of all these sessions and the main points of feedback is now available via the Cleary Square Engagement Storymap!

https://www.bostonplans.org/planning/planning-initiatives/cleary-square -involved

We are still collecting input. Two surveys are currently available for you to share your thoughts on the themes that have emerged from our engagement so far. You can also use our interactive map to show us where you like to gather, or places you feel are important arts and cultural spaces.

There are four more Article 80 modernization workshops – two in-person and two virtual! Join BPDA staff to learn about development review and share your feedback on our draft recommendations that aim to create a more predictable, transparent, and accountable process.

All workshops will have identical content, so we invite you to join the one that works best for you. Sign up here: https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/improving-development-review-process-article-80

If you are unable to attend a workshop and still want to share your feedback, please visit the project website for more information.

Last week, the BPDA celebrated the disbursement of $390,000 to 21 community organizations that serve the South Boston community. The work these organizations do runs the gamut from youth sports programs, to combating food insecurity, to support for senior citizens. This funding comes from multiple development projects in the South Boston neighborhood. Thank you to all of the organizations featured for all that you do for Boston! Learn more: https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/news-updates/2024/05/24/bpda-delivers-$390k-in-community-benefits-to-local

The West End Museum is officially reopening today! The museum shuttered in 2021 due to catastrophic flooding. The BPDA is proud to have supported the museum’s reopening over the last few years with community benefits funding from nearby development projects. The museum memorializes a defining moment in planning and development history in the City of Boston, and we encourage residents and visitors to visit their new permanent exhibit.

https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/news-updates/2022/11/07/bpda-delivers-funding-to-west-end-museum

How might the ADU Zoning Initiative help you? We want to hear about your experiences and questions you have about building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Boston! Please fill out our ADU Interest Survey here: https://forms.gle/QyjRjX13XpBPKtwa9

Building more ADUs will increase our housing supply while allowing homeowners to create income or provide additional space for family members. The BPDA has launched an initiative that would update zoning to make it easier to build ADUs in every neighborhood.

Visit BostonPlans.org for more information.

The BPDA Board of Directors approved the redevelopment of public land on the South Boston Waterfront into an EMS Station, and land in Roxbury into open space. The Board also approved three new development projects representing approximately 625,525 square feet. The new development projects will create 290 residential units, 43 of these units are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 555 construction jobs and 1,098 permanent jobs.
https://www.bostonplans.org/news-calendar/news-updates/2024/05/16/bpda-approves-teams-to-redevelop-public-land-in-ro

Attend one of our upcoming workshops! If you are unable to attend, we still want to hear from you! Please complete our online survey by June 3: https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/improving-development-review-process-article-80
Email [email protected] with any questions.

Fields Corner’s Squares + Streets launch events are next week! Join us virtually on Tuesday, May 14 from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM or in person on Saturday, May 18 from 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM at the Vietnamese American Community Center (VietAID) to officially kick off the planning and engagement process. Planners at these events will provide an overview of the Squares + Streets planning process and activities, and invite attendees to share their priorities, history, and hopes for Fields Corner.

Fields Corner in Dorchester is anchored by two main intersections: Dorchester Avenue and Adams Street and Dorchester Avenue and Park Street. There is access to seven MBTA bus routes and the MBTA Red Line at the Fields Corner station. There are two schools, a community center, & one library within ½ mile of Fields Corner.

https://www.bostonplans.org/planning/planning-initiatives/fields-corner

The BPDA is working to improve our development review process, and we want to hear from you! This is a generational opportunity and we encourage you to join us at an upcoming in-person workshop. These will be fun conversations to learn and share your feedback on our draft recommendations that aim to create a more predictable, transparent, and accountable process.

All workshops will have identical content, so we invite you to join the one that works best for you. As this is a city-wide initiative, the locations are geographically scattered across the city and the range of days and times will help community members find a time that works for their schedule. If you are unable to attend a workshop and still want to share your feedback, please visit the project website for more information. Snacks and refreshments will be provided, and childcare will be available for those who need it.
https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/improving-development-review-process-article-80

The Allston-Brighton Community Plan is a 20-month planning process that will develop a shared vision for future change in the neighborhood. Join our Allston-Brighton Community Plan Advisory Board! Learn more and apply by May 10 with the link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoY_YR-RksON26PhoIjILrrORrV-2bRZH_8Ot_Nj9BZb5mPg/viewform?mc_cid=7d6909c1a9&mc_eid=UNIQID

Building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) increases our housing supply while allowing homeowners to create extra income or provide extra space for family members. The BPDA has launched an initiative that would update zoning to allow ADUs to be built without needing zoning relief in every neighborhood. This change will help homeowners build these projects faster and without requiring special zoning approval, which will also decrease costs.

There will be a virtual public meeting tomorrow night to learn more about ADU zoning. Join the conversation to help shape future draft zoning recommendations.

Thank you Stephen for allowing us to showcase your beautiful ADU!

Let your voice be heard! A public comment period on the PLAN: Downtown zoning draft amendment will be open until June 4.

Please register to attend office hours to discuss the draft amendment with the planning team.

Zoning changes in this amendment focus on modernizing land use regulations to encourage new and diverse businesses Downtown, and unlocking new housing opportunities by enabling more density.

https://www.bostonplans.org/planning/planning-initiatives/plan-downtown

Students from the New England Innovation Academy in Marlboro were able to visit the BPDA Model Room and complete an urban planning activity on Tuesday. These 10th graders are currently learning about planning and have been tasked with a project to design their own town from scratch. Thank you for visiting!

The Model Room is free and open from 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday - Friday. Reach out to schedule your tour today! https://www.bostonplans.org/about-us/model-room