Productive relationships between municipalities and the development community attract economic investment and the opportunity for meaningful growth to Metro Boston.  These relationships should be encouraged. Long-term prosperity depends on it.  Where the permitting process brings satisfactory results, the applicants, the public, and the economy stand to benefit.  MetroFuture recommends that municipalities adopt a set of best practices that can make permitting more predictable, equitable, cost effective, and efficient.  

Inefficient permitting and approval processes can discourage economic development.  Developers who face a long, costly, and uncertain permitting process are likely to shift their resources and efforts to other locations, regions, or states.  This is especially concerning if inefficient permitting in smart growth locations causes developers to choose alternate locations that are inconsistent with the MetroFuture land use plan.  

Application of streamlined permitting processes does not require municipalities to lower their standards or feel pressured to approve bad proposals. Applied appropriately, Permit Streamlining Best Practices should reinforce local jurisdiction; encourage community supported projects; preserve local resources; and maintain the standard of review.  

With the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies, MAPC developed “A Best Practices Guide for Streamlined Local Permitting.”  This guide establishes four broad categories of best practices:

1. Fostering better communication
2. Standardizing forms and procedures
3. Providing sufficient resources
4. Encouraging proactive planning

The Commonwealth has also sought to encourage more efficient permitting through the Chapter 43D Priority Development Site process.  In order to qualify for this program, municipalities must adopt certain permitting best practices and must commit to rendering decisions within 180 days.  The implementation of this program should be monitored over time in order to ensure that it is administered efficiently and provides an appropriate balance between local oversight and expedited permitting. 

3.a    Municipalities should adopt permitting best practices

3.b    MAPC and allied organizations should monitor implementation of the 43D program and make recommendations for its improvement after five years

3.c    MAPC should support industry-municipal collaboration for permit streamlining in appropriate locations

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