Development Constraints—Interstate 495 Region

As part of its Community Preservation Initiative, the state Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) contracted with the 13 Massachusetts regional planning agencies (RPA) and consultants to provide a build-out map and analysis of all 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth. A build-out analysis is a series of GIS-based maps that illustrate a community's current zoning, the land available for development and how it is zoned, and maximum development possible in a particular community if every piece of developable land was developed based on existing local zoning. Accompanying the maps are projections of the numbers of residents, households, public school students, and water use at build out. The analysis is a planning tool that demonstrates development as it could occur if no changes are made to current zoning, and it helps to stimulate discussion as communities continue to grow. EOEA's watershed team leaders and RPA presented each city or town's build-out analysis to city councils and boards of selectmen in all 351 communities.

Absolute Development Constraints--Interstate 495 Region is the first in the set of maps for a super summit held in May 2001 for 27 communities in the Interstate 495 beltway. It displays land already developed or absolutely constrained. Such constraints may vary from town to town due to zoning regulations but generally include steep slopes, wetlands, and floodplains. Current regionalized zoning codes, protected open space, and recent subdivisions are featured.

Developable Lands and Partial Constraints--Interstate 495 Region is the second in the set of super summit maps. It displays land potentially developable, symbolized by a regional zoning classification. Massachusetts Geographic Information System derived these regional zoning codes to ensure a standard legend across a state in which the 351 communities' zoning codes vary greatly. For more information on the methodology used in the build-out analyses, visit their Scope of Services for Buildout Analysis.