Bill
HD 4085
Establishes a statewide program to help cities and towns develop comprehensive community development plans focused on housing, infrastructure, resilience, and open space.
Status: Senate concurred; Introduced February 27, 2025; Referred to the Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses (and Senate concurrence followed).
Purpose
- To establish a statewide program—via a new Chapter 40Z—to help cities and towns develop comprehensive community development plans. The plans would address housing opportunities, economic development, infrastructure, climate resilience, and open space, with an emphasis on balancing growth with preservation of natural resources.
Key Provisions
1) Establishment of Chapter 40Z – Community Development Planning
- Defines “Community development plan” as a comprehensive, strategic plan for a city or town that covers new housing opportunities, economic development (if any), infrastructure needs (water, transportation, housing, electricity), transportation networks, climate resiliency, and open space.
- Creates a formal program to assist municipalities in creating these plans and, potentially, to develop regional development plans.
2) Community Development Plan Program (Two-Year Initiative)
- Coordinated by three state Secretaries: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; Executive Office of Economic Development; and Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
- The program provides technical assistance and resources (including in-kind services and discretionary funds) to help cities and towns prepare community development plans.
- Supports regional planning efforts spanning multiple communities.
3) Initial Funding
- The Commonwealth would provide an initial appropriation of $20,000,000 to ensure access to resources needed to complete plans.
4) Prioritization for Discretionary Funds (Implementation)
- Priority funding for communities that have completed a plan and demonstrated steps to increase housing supply across income levels and bolster resiliency, infrastructure, and economic development.
- Steps may include:
- Zoning and land-use reforms to allow higher-density housing (duplexes, accessory dwelling units, mixed-use development, multi-family housing).
- Adoption of housing tools (e.g., 40R/40Y/40A, density bonuses for deed-restricted units).
- Streamlining permitting processes.
- Providing funding or land to underwrite housing costs for low- and moderate-income households.
- Increasing overall housing supply for low- to moderate-income households.
- Additional opportunities for economic development and infrastructure enhancements.
- Pursuing regional planning initiatives identified in the community development plan.
5) Reporting and Review
- Two years after enactment, Secretaries must report on the status of communities developing or having completed plans to the Clerks of the House and Senate.
6) Plan Update Requirement
- Community Development Plans must be completed at least every 10 years.
7) Interaction with Chapter 41 Master Plan
- Amends Section 81D of Chapter 41 to allow Community Development Plans created under Chapter 40Z to be considered in the development of the Comprehensive Master Plan.
Who Is Affected
- Cities and towns across Massachusetts (primary focus on planning departments and local officials).
- State agencies and Secretaries administering EEA, EED, and OHLC.
- Local developers, housing advocates, and residents, particularly those affected by housing policy and infrastructure investments.
- Legislative clerks and committees responsible for reporting on program progress.
Timeline and Process
- Two-year program window for initial implementation and technical assistance.
- Plans to be updated at least every 10 years.
- Two-year post-enactment reporting requirement on progress.
- Initial funding of $20 million to support plan development and related activities.
Overall Impact
- The bill aims to elevate proactive, regionally informed community development planning, with a clear emphasis on expanding housing opportunities, modernizing infrastructure, and enabling sustainable growth while protecting natural resources. It would shift some discretionary funding toward municipalities that complete plans and demonstrate housing and resiliency progress, and would integrate planning outcomes into the state’s broader master planning framework.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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