The Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development (EOHED) has released its long-anticipated 495/MetroWest Development Compact Plan.  More than a year in the making, the Plan provides a blueprint for the sustainable growth and economic development of the Interstate 495 corridor.  In each of the 37 communities along the 495 corridor, the Plan identifies priority development areas for new growth, and priority preservation areas for conservation and protection.  It also highlights transportation investments critical to the region, such as commuter rail lines, bridges and highway interchanges, as well as additional infrastructure investment needs, including water supply and wastewater treatment. 

To develop the Plan, the State partnered with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the MetroWest Regional Collaborative, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, the 495/MetroWest Partnership (of which I am a Board member), and Mass Audubon.  The Plan is the product of public forums and discussions and feedback from local planning boards, boards of selectmen, residents and area business leaders.  The hope is that the Plan will help guide and inform land use decisions in our region, maximize our current resources, and, according to Greg Bialecki, Secretary of EOHED, “assure that continued growth will be sustainable over the long term.” 

To review the priority development and preservation areas in your community, turn to Appendix E in the Plan (starting at page 103).