JM Goldson Services

Oak Bluffs, MA
Housing Production Plan

JM Goldson specializes in collaborative land use planning that will help your community understand and plan to address affordable, mixed-income, and market rate housing needs; public engagement with professional facilitation; as well as long-range and strategic planning.

Ways we can help your community:

JM Goldson Community Preservation + Planning housing logo

Planning for Housing Needs

Housing is more than buildings. It’s about opportunity and belonging. We help communities take action by understanding local housing challenges and updating local plans, policies, and priority initiatives so more people can find a place to call home. From data to adoption, we’re with you every step of the way.

Highlighted projects:

People icon representing community engagement

Public Engagement + Professional Facilitation

People want to be heard. We design inclusive, accessible ways for community members to share their voices and then we make sure those voices shape the outcome. Our professional facilitation services, led by Jenn Goldson, who is a certified professional facilitator, helps communities build trust, find common ground, and make decisions together.

Highlighted projects:

Map icon representing Massachusetts community

Long-Range + Strategic Planning

We help communities create a vision for the future and a clear, doable path to get there. Our plans are rooted in local values and guided by the everyday lives of the people who build a life, connect with others, and feel a sense of belonging. Whether it’s a comprehensive plan or a strategic planning agenda, we focus on what’s possible, what’s practical, and what’s next.

Highlighted projects:

Meet the

JM Goldson Team

Founded by certified community planner Jenn Goldson in 2006, JMG has provided community planning services to countless municipalities, private consulting partners, and mission-driven housing developers in the Northeast U.S. and beyond. Our holistic approach combines deep community engagement, data-driven technical expertise, and a strong knowledge of possibilities for progressive public policies.

We’d love the opportunity to talk with you about your project!

Get in touch

What clients are saying…

  • A red brick building with pointed towers surrounded by green shrubs and a tree with pink blossoms in the foreground under a partly cloudy blue sky.

    "Professional, responsive, and genuinely committed to our project’s success."

    Every member of the JM Goldson team working with Stow on our Comprehensive Plan update has been impressive- professional, responsive, and genuinely committed to our project’s success. They provide true leadership, allowing staff to comfortably take a step back so that our department may continue to balance additional priority initiatives. Their ability to keep the project organized and on time is greatly appreciated. I couldn’t be more pleased with this project and look forward to working with JM Goldson on future planning efforts.

    — Planning Director, Town of Stow, MA

    Photo credit: Kathy Sferra

  • Map of Brewster, highlighting historic districts, archaeological areas, water bodies, rail trails, and open spaces, with an inset showing detailed map of Brewster Old King's Highway.

    "Encouraged and fostered communication with key stakeholders."

    In my opinion, the CPA plan has helped the committee become more forward looking, and has encouraged and fostered communication with key stakeholders.  I think our efforts and outreach to finally get the TAP passed at Town Meeting had the beneficial effect of allowing more voters to understand how CPA finances work, what the committee does, and what projects were eligible for CPA funds.

    — Brewster HPP Committee Member

  • A red historic barn with stone foundation, white trim, and a decorative red ribbon, surrounded by bare trees, next to a white house with a porch, and a driveway with parked cars, on an overcast day.

    “Impressed us all.”

    Thanks to Jenn’s professionalism, expert advice and creative problem-solving abilities, the APA-MA chapter has a new website which has received tremendous praise. Jenn led the complicated effort, with technical and strategic assistance from Chris Ryan, and impressed us all. Her service to the chapter was organized, smart, and on budget. She is a multi-faceted planning professional that I would continue to recommend to anyone seeking consulting services.

    — Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association, Vice President of Chapter Affairs

  • “Exceptional with unsurpassable knowledge.”

    Jenn’s professionalism, energy, knowledge, and consistently pleasant presence makes working with her a great pleasure. Her knowledge of the Community Preservation Act, relationships with various state players and stake holders, professional demeanor . . . is unsurpassable . . . She is an exceptional writer and researcher; her responses are prompt and thorough; she is consistent with follow-up and incredibly detailed oriented. It is sad to remember where we were before engaging her and impossible to imagine how we could continue to prosper without her.

    — Community Preservation Committee Chair, Town of Bridgewater

    Development concept drawing by Brian Goldson

  • Group of people sitting around tables with papers and water bottles, participating in a meeting or conference in a large room with artwork on the walls.

    “Jenn has an excellent ability to get groups to work toward consensus in a positive and productive manner.”

    Jenn and her team were well prepared for meetings and events, completed work on time and within budget, and had good communication about potential issues . . . Jenn has an excellent ability to get groups to work toward consensus in a positive and productive manner.

    — Respondent to JM Goldson’s 2020 Client Evaluation Survey

  • Yellow two-story house with black shutters and white trim, surrounded by green grass and trees.

    “Jenn had attention to detail . . . and willingness to listen and respond.”

    Jenn had attention to detail, a pleasant personality, knowledge of the subject area, and willingness to listen and respond.

    — Respondent to JM Goldson’s 2020 Client Evaluation Survey

  • Group of people gathered around a large map on a table, discussing and pointing to different areas.

    “We would choose her again 10 times out of 10.”

    We chose Jenn to complete our Housing Needs Assessment based initially upon her well-deserved reputation. Being thoroughly satisfied with that report, we engaged JM Goldson again to complete our Housing Production Plan and we haven’t been disappointed. She and her team have done an exceptional job communicating with town officials and town residents during multiple public workshops, synthesizing the public input and demographic data, and producing comprehensive, pragmatic, and well-reasoned reports. We would choose her again 10 times out of 10.

    — Director of Planning and Community Development, Town of Agawam