Community Preservation + Planning Services

Oak Bluffs, MA
Housing Production Plan

JM Goldson specializes in collaborative and creative planning that will help your community through complex land use planning and visioning efforts, community preservation planning, and spatial analytics and data visualization. 

Ways we can help your community:

Long-Range + Strategic Planning

We help communities create a vision for the future—and a clear 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:

Community Engagement + 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 facilitation helps communities build trust, find common ground, and make decisions together.

Highlighted projects:

Planning + Zoning 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 plans and zoning 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:

Meet the

JM Goldson Team

Founded by certified community planner Jenn Goldson in 2006, JMG has provided community planning services to countless municipalities and non-profit organizations 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!

What clients are saying…

  • "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.

    — Faythe Ellis, Brewster HPP Committee, June 2024

  • “Impressed us all.”

    Thanks to Jennifer’s professionalism, expert advice and creative problem-solving abilities, the APA-MA chapter has a new website which has received tremendous praise. Jennifer 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.

    — Town of Bridgewater, Community Preservation Committee Chair Development concept drawing by Brian Goldson

  • “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

  • “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

  • “I was quite impressed.”

    I was quite impressed with the services Jenn and her team provided.

    — Respondent to JM Goldson’s 2020 Client Evaluation Survey

  • “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.

    — Town of Agawam, Director of Planning and Community Development

  • "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

    — Valerie Oorthuys, Planning Director, Town of Stow, MA, 2024