East Boston planning initiative gains BPDA approval MABA MassachusettsRealEstate MaBuyerAgent FirstTimeHomeBuyers

A new vision for East Boston has been approved following five years of planning and community discussions. The Boston Planning & Development Agency’s board of directors adopted East Boston Tomorrow, the PLAN: East Boston vision report at its January meeting. The adoption of the plan follows five years of planning work and community engagement to set a “clear and ambitious vision for the neighborhood, deeply informed by the priorities” of East Boston residents.

The plan includes several initiatives focused on increasing affordable housing, climate change preparedness, enhanced mobility and transit options, supporting local businesses and zoning recommendations for growth. “This document is called East Boston Tomorrow because it will truly take us into the future in the strongest way possible as Bostonians, producing a future with more housing, improved mobility and better prepared for climate change,” said Boston’s Chief of Planning Arthur Jemison.

“I want to thank the community for their collaboration on this process since 2018 and agency staff for their hard work to produce a comprehensive plan that will serve East Boston for decades to come. ”The adoption also includes the board recommending the approval of updated zoning, which will be before the city’s Zoning Commission for adoption. Because the plan recommends new development within residential areas and includes an emphasis on improving access to neighborhood retail amenities, the updated zoning will allow for more mixed-use in the area to allow for more area shops and community uses.

“Neighborhood corner stores are an integral part of East Boston’s economy and social fabric, as they provide walkable access to essential goods and services,” the BPDA board said. “Because of this, the plan recommends updating zoning to allow for a mix of uses like coffee shops, laundromats and community uses like daycares, all of which are prohibited by the current zoning.”
The plan also recommends increasing dentistry in East Boston’s squares and corridors to expand access to housing.

“By intentionally encouraging housing production in transit-accessible areas that offer an abundance of commercial, civic and cultural resources, East Boston residents and business owners will feel benefits beyond access to housing,” the filing says. “When daily needs are available close to home, time and money spent on transportation and the number of car trips can be reduced. In addition, small business owners can benefit from a larger pool of nearby patrons and employees.”

The plan also recommends expanding public access to East Boston’s waterfront which is underutilized and disconnected from the community. It also calls for working with state and federal agencies to protect the waterfront with “resilient infrastructure” and calls for the adaptive reuse of historic structures in the area for community and recreational space. “This plan was initiated almost six years ago East Boston was under siege with development proposals and neighbors were exhausted trying to keep up with every individual proposal that popped up,” said Tanya Hanel, PLAN: East Boston Advisory Group member.

“A lot of work has gone into drafting, presenting, listening and revising this plan so that future development can align with the changes our neighborhood wants and needs. It also includes a lot of public improvements that I’m excited about the key is making sure that this plan is carried out in such a way that East Boston remains a diverse and affordable place to live.” The plan also focuses on coastal flood resilience in the area as East Boston is vulnerable to both coastal and inland flooding. It recommends increasing the area’s tree canopy and permeable surfaces, and the Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District ensures new development is raised to account for sea level rise.

It also advocates for the expansion of both ferry service and coastal resilient infrastructure to protect public and private areas along the waterfront. “The agency is proud to have produced a comprehensive planning document that the community helped to shape and create over the last five years,” the BPDA board said. “This is a generational effort to ensure growth and development in East Boston are predictable, appropriately scaled and suit the needs of residents today and in the years to come.”

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