News & Resources

Smart Growth Project: Greenfield Master Plan (2013)

The Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance recognizes smart growth projects and planning/zoning initiatives across the Commonwealth. This project is one of many that were featured at our 2013 conference. See other examples

Greenfield

 In 2012, the Town began undertaking the development of the Greenfield Comprehensive Sustainable Master Plan Project, which is anticipated to be completed in January 2014. The goals and strategies of the plan include: increasing the density of housing within one mile of downtown, allow co-housing, identify gateways and develop a beautification plan, develop a townwide walkability plan, create a Greenfield Bikes Initiative, adopt a Right-to-Farm Ordinance, adopt an infill development ordinance to encourage redevelopment or reuse of vacant or underperforming buildings or parcels, and to encourage the preservation of historic buildings through creative reuse.

Opportunities: The Town has gotten feedback from people that have not currently been engaged in this process the innovative and creative engagement tools such as MindMixer. Education of residents has also been very important, and has had the effect of generating more interest from the public.

Challenges: The challenge is the timing – this plan has been developed with a lot input in a very small period of time due to the grant restrictions from the HUD Sustainable Communities Program.

Project Team: Town of Greenfield, VHB

Cost: $120,000

Funding Sources: 2012 Massachusetts Mini-Entitlement Grant from DHCD and a grant from FRCOG as part of the HUD Regional Sustainable Communities Program to develop the Franklin County Regional Plan for Sustainable Development.

Contact: Angela Vincent, Sustainability Project Manager, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, avincent@vhb.com