The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) will be hosting a Holiday Networking Event and Open House to present a final draft update of the region’s Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and Priority Preservation Areas (PPAs) at Cork and Wine Tapas in New Bedford on Thursday, December 19, 2024, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. The event will also be the quarterly meeting of the Regional Economic Strategy Committee (RESC). Please join us to review and comment on this work! Those interested in attending can register here.
Background from 2008 and 2013
Working with communities to plan for potential growth and the arrival of South Coast Rail (SCR) passenger service has remained a long-standing priority for MBTA and SRPEDD.
In 2008, SRPEDD, along with other Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs), partnered with individual municipalities and the Commonwealth to develop a comprehensive regional land use strategy for the region. Designating PDAs and PPAs allowed communities to identify local areas that were appropriate for growth as well as areas necessary to preserve for ecological, cultural, or recreational purposes. This planning process ensured that community voices and priorities were represented in local, regional, and statewide decision-making.
Five years later, in 2013, SRPEDD and sister RPAs worked to revisit and refine these original PDA and PPA designations by conducting over 100 meetings and working sessions and deploying significant Geographic Information System (GIS) data and policy analysis. This “Five-Year update” resulted in the 2013 Community Priority Areas of Regional Significance report.
2023/2024 Update
Over the past year and a half (a decade after the last update), SRPEDD staff have once again collaborated with municipal and community leaders in all 27 of the agency’s service communities in another series of presentations, working sessions, and policy and report reviews. Throughout this engagement process, cities and towns designated new PDAs and PPAs and otherwise refined and updated their existing designations to align with current community goals.
Equipped with this local knowledge, SRPEDD staff also reviewed the community PDAs and PPAs using a Regional Screening process that measured the suitability of each of the local designations for future development and preservation activities. Through this methodology, SRPEDD identified areas of regional significance from among the city and town PDAs and PPAs. Examples of these 2024 Community Priority Areas of Regional Significance can be found in the case studies outlined in the project’s interactive Story Map.
This project was by funded by the MBTA and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ (EOHLC) District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) program.
Resources
- PDA/PPA Project Page (www.srpedd.org/Priority-Areas)
- 2024 PDA/PPA Story Map
Learn more about the current engagement process through our project newsletters!
Learn more about the agency’s accomplishments over the past year via by clicking on the image below!
View the printer friendly version here.
Thank you to all who have participated in the Middleborough Master Plan so far! Visit the links below to check out a recap of our Kick-Off workshop and survey responses.
Upcoming Engagement Opportunities
Participate as we work to outline and develop our first two Master Plan ‘Elements’ (or Chapters) – Open Space and Recreation and Natural and Cultural Resources!
Join us on July 21st at Soule Homestead Education Center to learn about how Middleborough’s parks, habitats, sustainability practices, and cultural, historic and natural preservation and help us create a guide and envision how these elements might looks like in the next ten years! We will also be celebrating National Ice Cream Day with free ice cream for event attendees and activities for kids.
Click on image to register or visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/2ptk2z2
Freetown is working with the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) to draft a zoning bylaw that will comply with the MBTA Communities Act. A series of public meeting will be held this spring to inform the public the proposed changes to the existing Planned Mixed Use Development District (PMUD).
Explore the Story Map Here:
The Planned Development District (PDD) (arcgis.com)
Learn More about Section 3A Here:
www.srpedd.org/mbta-communities
www.mass.gov/info-details/multi-family-zoning-requirement-for-mbta-communities
Section 3A Brochure – Freetown by Comprehensive Department
Middleborough is updating its Master Plan!
A Master Plan is a policy guide designed to help communities create a vision of what they want to look like in the future; Master Plans help guide communities in their planning decisions for many years and are a valuable resource for anyone who would like to better understand a community’s values and priorities.
Over the next two years, the Town of Middleborough, with support from the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic District (SRPEDD), will hear from you – Middleborough residents, business owners, community organizers, and members. A lot has changed since Middleborough’s Master Plan was last updated in 2002 and your input will be the essential ingredient – combined with current, accurate data – that will build the final Master Plan!
The project team kicked off the planning process earlier this year and is actively looking for members to join the Master Plan Committee! Interested in joining? Please contact Leann Bradley at bradleyl@middleboroughma.gov or submit an expression of interest via this form https://forms.office.com/r/2D6tY2fwZn.
Visit the project website to learn more and sign up for updates on our newsletter with this link.
March 6, 2024
Learn more about regional updates in Southeastern Massachusetts!
Have you read SRPEDD’s December Bulletin? Click the link below for project updates, grant opportunities, and upcoming events.
Revitalizing Somerset’s Slade’s Ferry: Your Voice Matters!
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30th, 2023
Contact: Maria Jones (mjones@srpedd.org)
SOMERSET, MA – The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) is thrilled to announce a transformative initiative to breathe new life into Somerset’s historic Slade’s Ferry neighborhood. In collaboration with the Somerset Economic Development Committee, SRPEDD invites residents to join the conversation and shape the future at the first Slade’s Ferry Neighborhood Plan Open House from 6 PM to 8 PM on Thursday, December 7th at the Somerset Town Library.
Discover the Past, Shape the Future:
The re-routing of Route 6 left Slade’s Ferry as an area poised for a vibrant transformation. Despite past efforts, the full potential of this area remains untapped. SRPEDD, your regional planning ally, is here to engage the community in updating zoning by-laws and crafting tailored design guidelines to jumpstart economic and community development.
Why Your Presence Matters:
We believe in the power of community input. You are the heartbeat of Somerset, and your insights will shape the vision for Slade’s Ferry. Join us at in the Cucinotta Room at the Town Library:
- Engage: Speak directly with the project team and the Somerset Economic Development Committee.
- Explore: Delve into the past and ongoing planning for the Slade’s Ferry Crossing Overlay District.
- Envision: View maps and drone photos illustrating the current state of the area.
- Discuss: Share your ideas, questions, and concerns one-on-one with planners and Town staff.
There is no formal presentation and residents can feel free to drop in and out at their leisure.
Be a Part of Somerset’s Future:
Together, we can create a vibrant neighborhood, make infrastructure improvements, boost tax revenues, and expand local businesses. Join us at the workshops to be a driving force in shaping Somerset’s destiny. We extend an enthusiastic invitation to all residents to attend the December 7th Open House. Let’s work together to make Slade’s Ferry a hub of community life, economic vitality, and natural beauty.
Can’t Make It? Stay Connected!
Visit srpedd.org/slades-ferry to sign up for updates and follow the Somerset Economic Development Committee on Facebook for real-time project updates and upcoming events or reach the project team directly via email:
- Phillip Hu (phu@srpedd.org)
- Lizeth Gonzalez (lgonzalez@srpedd.org)
- Robert Cabral (rcabral@srpedd.org)
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About SRPEDD:
The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) is the regional planning agency for 27 towns across southeast Massachusetts. Established in 1968, SRPEDD assists communities in planning for the region’s land use, transportation, economy, and environment.