Sustainability

Sustainability planning focuses on open space, conserved land, water protection, and climate-related projects. Our goal through sustainable planning projects is to meet the current needs of people and the natural environment without compromising the future needs of both.

FEATURED PROJECTS

Upcoming:

Featured Project: Collaboration with MAPC on Climate

The creation of the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants under EPA will release $5 billion dollars in grants to states, local governments, tribes and territories, to create and implement plans for reducing climate pollution including greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollutants. The first piece of this grant program was the release of a million dollars to the largest Metropolitan Statistical Area across the country. OCPC communities fall under the Boston Metropolitan Statistical Area providing a unique opportunity for us to collaborate with MAPC and other surrounding RPA’s (regional planning agencys). Keep checking back to see how this unique funding opportunity is executed over the next 5 years.

Featured

Green Communities

Featured

Green Communities

Ongoing Projects:

West Bridgewater Open Space and Recreation Plan

Currently we are helping West Bridgewater update their Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). This plan helps the town set goals and initiatives or improving their recreational spaces and acquiring open space to protect it from development. An Open Space and Recreation Plan is good for seven years, during which towns are able to receive grant funding specific to their project initiatives through the state. Do you live, work, or own property in West Bridgewater?

Take the OSRP Survey here!

SERVICES

Hazard and Vulnerability Planning

Hazard mitigation (including mitigation activity) is defined by FEMA as any sustained action, measure, or project taken to reduce or eliminate risk of future damage, hardship, or loss to human life and property from disasters. Mitigation efforts undertaken by communities will help to minimize damages to buildings and infrastructure, such as water supplies, sewers, and utility transmission lines, as well as natural cultural and historic resources. A HMP is a strategy to create an action plan to reduce the impacts of natural hazards and climate change within the region. The completion of the plan opens the community up to additional funding sources for implementation of prescribed projects.
Green Communities

The Green Communities program offers a full range of energy initiatives and services to cities and towns. In accordance with the Green Communities Act funding is available for qualifying communities to implement energy-efficiency measures, construct renewable energy projects, or pursue other avenues to reduce their fossil fuel energy consumption. Grants are offered each year by the Green Communities Division to municipalities, regional school districts, and water/wastewater districts to apply for funds to support clean energy projects at public facilities. OCPC receives funds to assist municipalities apply for Green Communities Designation and coordinate municipal energy activities. OCPC provides MassEnergyInsight (MEI) assistance. MEI is an easy-to-use, web-based tool that benchmarks the energy performance of all municipally owned and operated buildings, as well as streetlights and vehicles
Open Space and Recreation Planning

The purpose of an Open Space and Recreation Plan is to inventory, assess, and plan for future open space and recreation resources. The plan identifies natural and recreational resources within a community and takes inventory of all open space within. Incorporates public input to better serve the community’s needs, build support for various efforts, and encourage the public participation in the protection of important resources. As required by the Guidelines of the Division of Conservation Services, an OSRP updates the social and environmental profiles of the town, discusses influences of present growth and development trends, inventories existing conservation and recreation areas and facilities, and examines community recreation needs. The Plan will provide community goals and objectives to preserve and enhance resources.
Climate Action

Climate action can take many forms from the realm of planning. Climate impacts all spans of work we do as an agency. In addition to the broad spectrum of potential projects listed on this page, our team can help with zoning and bylaw amendments to prepare for climate change impacts or to promote the use of solar and wind energy. Currently, OCPC is working in conjunction with MAPC to execute the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant across multiple regional planning agency areas.
Water Resource Planning

Ground and surface water are an essential part of our environment and our everyday lives. Having access to clean drinking water and maintaining healthy and safe aquatic recreation spaces is an important piece of our work. Water protection happens on the municipal, regional, watershed, and state levels all of which work together to ensure that our ground water is able to be recharge and filter through ecological processes. Water resource planning projects include protective land acquisition grants, dam modification or removal, and site planning for aquatic recreation spaces.
Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice is defined by the state as the right for all people to be protected from environmental hazards and to live in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment. Environmental Justice can be direct projects such as Brown Fields Remediation or indirect such as considering the accessibility of parks and trails to neighborhoods that the state identifies as environmental justice populations.