BPDA announces PLAN: East Boston Advisory Group

Jan 07, 2019

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) today announced 20 appointments to the PLAN: East Boston Advisory Group (AG).

The Advisory Group is comprised of residents who represent East Boston's diverse community, and includes representatives from each of the six civic associations: Orient Heights Civic Association, Harbor View Neighborhood Association, Eagle Hill Civic Association, Gove Street Citizens Association, Maverick Central Neighborhood Association and Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association. The 20-member group will help to create a long-term vision for East Boston, and includes renters and owners, life-long residents and new residents, small business representatives, housing activists, environmental and open space advocates, a real estate agent, an architect, and community experts. One-third of the membership is either Spanish-speaking or of the Latino Community.

“We congratulate the members selected, and thank the many qualified nominees who stepped forward,” said Brian Golden, Director of the BPDA, “We greatly appreciate the interest in this planning initiative and the commitment to the neighborhood. We are looking forward to working with the East Boston community.”

Mayor Walsh announced PLAN: East Boston in June 2018 to assess existing neighborhood conditions and propose viable recommendations that will address community concerns and issues, exploring themes outlined in Imagine Boston 2030. Members of the AG will assist the BPDA’s planning team in several tasks related to the initiative including:

• Community outreach efforts
• Reviewing consultant’s tasks and their findings
• Assessing existing conditions
• Proposing viable recommendations that will ultimately inform new zoning regulations

Community discussions will focus on creating a framework to predictably shape the future of the neighborhood by identifying opportunities to preserve, enhance and grow. This includes both contextually-sensitive development and the preservation of the existing residential fabric, enhancement of the vitality of existing residential communities and businesses, anti-displacement strategies for residents and businesses, connectivity along the waterfront, mobility, and flood protection and climate resiliency.

Last year, the BPDA approved an Interim Planning Overlay District (IPOD) for East Boston's existing residential neighborhoods, an interim zoning tool that is used to maintain increased public review and community voice in the evaluation of proposed new development during a planning process.

The BPDA has asked the nominees to be available for and commit to attending both public workshops and intermediary AG meetings. AG meetings will be open to the public for the community to attend and will include Spanish translation services. Additional information regarding AG roles and responsibilities can be found on the BPDA project website, linked here: bit.ly/PlanEastBoston.

Advisory Group Members

Ex-offico Advisory Group Members