JM Goldson, working closely with the Community Development Department and project steering committees, produced the Housing Production Plan and Community Development Plan (CDP) in parallel. Ipswich is a rural coastal community on the North Shore of Massachusetts defined by marshes, agricultural and natural landscapes, a vibrant tourism industry, and its historic town center and First-Period houses. Incorporated in 1634, Ipswich calls itself “the Birthplace of American Independence.”
The CDP is a long-range (15-year) plan that provides the basis for decision-making about land use planning and development, housing policy, transportation investment, economic development, and public infrastructure, particularly as related to climate resilience.
The Housing Production Plan (HPP) is a state-recognized planning tool that, under certain circumstances, permits the community to influence the location, type, and pace of affordable housing development. The HPP establishes a strategic plan for production of affordable and mixed-income housing that is based upon a comprehensive housing needs assessment and provides a detailed analysis of development constraints due to infrastructure capacity, environmental constraints, protected open space and historic resources, and regulatory barriers.
QUOTE:
“We need a variety of housing options to meet diverse needs.”
- A response to the 2019 Ipswich Community Development Plan Survey
