The Council continued working with other regional planning agencies and individual communities to manage /guide growth at the regional and local level.  The effort seeks to lessen wasteful sprawl by accommodating probable growth and needed economic development in ways that build on the best of our traditional communities and preserve significant natural resources.  The effort is crucial because continued large lot residential growth development and highway oriented commercial development are consuming land much faster than population growth - and such population growth is more a matter of migration within and between regions than of actual increase in eastern Massachusetts.  This leads to a characterless region with weak community centers, little open space or land for future needs and an increased dependence on private cars.  

This year’s activities have included:

·         Participation in the Chapter 43D Expedited Permitting funded efforts included:

Research and other tasks to help prepare the: report ”a best Practices Model for Streamlining Local Permitting”.

Assisting communities in selecting an initial Priority development site, adopting Chapter 43D locally and applying for state technical assistance funds

·         Helping to develop the overall work programs and participating on the Steering Committees for the Upper Taunton River Basin Waste Water Evaluation Study and the Taunton River Watershed Study.  The Council’s Old Colony Wastewater Planning Committee initiated the projects and is represented on the two Steering Committees.

·         Preparing Open Space and Recreation Plans in West Bridgewater, Plympton and Bridgewater in cooperation with the local Open Space and Recreation Plan Committees who are doing much of the key field work

·         Updating the Easton Open Space and Recreation Plan earlier prepared by the Council

·         Reviewing and revising the Avon Zoning Bylaw in cooperation with the Avon Planning Board and Building Inspector.

·         Participation on the board of the Pilgrim Resource Conservation and Development Area Council assisting this USDA-funded effort in supporting agriculture preservation, rural economic development, and natural resource protects drawing on a range of agencies.

·         Reviewing MEPA submissions for major projects like the Kingston’s Place 1021 Smart Growth Transit Oriented Development project and expansion of the  Independence Mall

·         Researching applicable local regulations for aspects of the Council’s Access Management Study.

·         Reviewing and summarizing local residential zoning provisions for the Council’s Data Book.

·         Exploring alternate commute rail station sites with Easton officials