Memorandum of Agreement

In order to promote formal local adoption and implementation of Valley Vision, PVPC developed an innovative intergovernmental compact, the “Memorandum of Agreement for Promoting Regional Action of Growth Management and Valley Vision, the Regional Land Use Plan”.  It is designed to promote action by each signatory community to consider the adoption of land use regulations to promote smart growth and consistency with Valley Vision.

During 2007, PVPC staff met with chief elected officials and Planning Boards in each of the region’s 43 communities to present the Valley Vision plan, receive community comments and seek approval of the intergovernmental compact.  In many cases, response to community comments and other issues necessitated multiple meetings with each community.  The MOU or compact was eventually signed by the chief elected officials in 40 out of 43 cities and towns in the Pioneer Valley region.

MOA Communities Map

Technical Assistance

In order to further implement the smart growth strategies highlighted in the Valley Vision plan, as well as help communities meet their commitment under the Valley Vision MOA, PVPC is committed to offering free technical assistance to communities interested in implementing any Valley Vision strategy, as listed in the plan or the toolbox.

For more information on how PVPC can provide technical assistance to your community, please contact Jessica Allan at jallan@pvpc.org

“Building Better” Forum

On June 7, 2006, PVPC coordinated “Building Better”, a regional forum on public private partnerships for smarter growth at the Holyoke Community College’s new Kittredge Center.  The forum was a huge success, with 17 excellent presenters, and was attended by over 60 builders, bankers, architects, planners, state and local officials, and housing experts.  The purpose of the forum was to highlight opportunities for effective public-private partnerships what will achieve better growth and development in the Pioneer Valley.


Pilot Projects and Case Studies

PVPC staff are actively seeking to create public-private partnerships among communities and builders to develop real, working smart growth projects which can serve as models or pilot projects to spur greater interest in, and support for, smart growth. We are also working to document, through case studies, other existing, built smart growth projects around the region, and many of these are illustrated in the Valley Vision plan and Toolbox. If you are interested developing a Pilot Project, or know of an existing smart growth project within the region that is not currently highlighted in our plan, please contact Chris Curtis at chcurtis@pvpc.org

Smart Growth Awards

The Valley Development Council, the Home Builders Association of Western Massachusetts, the Western Mass Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission partnered in 2007 to create the first annual Pioneer Valley Smart Growth Awards. The purpose of these awards is to recognize developments in the region that promote smart growth standards such as higher density, walkability, infill and reuse, affordable housing, and environmental protection, while providing a benefit to the surrounding community.  The next Pioneer Valley Smart Growth awards will be held in 2009.

2007 Pioneer Valley Smart Growth Award Results 
It is our hope that this plan and its various components will foster smart growth action throughout the region, as well as encourage our member communities to implement smart growth strategies the local level. Here are a number of ways PVPC is encouraging smart growth in the Pioneer Valley.