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Land Use & Environment

What We Do

PVPC’s Land Use & Environment department is driving bold, community-centered change across the region. We help cities and towns bring their visions to life through smart zoning, comprehensive planning, and strategies that support vibrant, walkable, and affordable communities. Our work blends local goals with regional priorities to protect the environment, strengthen neighborhoods, and preserve community character.

We partner with municipalities, agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector to expand access to clean, renewable energy, build green infrastructure, and safeguard natural resources like rivers, forests, and drinking water. We help communities confront the effects of climate change, reduce food insecurity, and plan for natural hazards with resilience in mind.

With technical expertise and a passion for sustainability, our team helps communities grow wisely, equitably, and in harmony with the environment—ensuring a thriving Pioneer Valley for generations to come.

Available Programs

Clean Energy

PVPC convenes a quarterly regional Clean Energy Climate Action working group, composed of staff and volunteers from municipalities, state agencies, colleges and universities,…
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Comprehensive Planning

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) provides a full range of comprehensive planning services to help member municipalities establish a long-term vision for growth,…
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Drinking Water

PVPC is working with municipalities throughout the region to determine key pathways to improved protection of drinking water supply. This includes regulatory updates for…
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Healthy Communities

PVPC staff assist communities in the region to become designated as Age and Dementia Friendly through AARP and the Massachusetts Councils on Aging
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Housing

PVPC assists our member municipalities to identify and plan ways to meet current and future housing needs. We are skilled at creating DHCD compliant Housing Production Plans…
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Open Space & Recreation

PVPC staff are able to assist our member communities with planning for recreation and open space conservation. One of the main ways we can do this is through updating Open…
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Stormwater Management

We help cities and towns across Hampden and Hampshire Counties advance local stormwater management goals. Our team understands the regulatory, technical, and practical…
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Technical Assistance

Through the Massachusetts DLTA program, PVPC offers direct planning and technical assistance to cities and towns. Funded by the state, this program helps communities tackle…
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Let's Work Together

If you are a planner, engineer, elected official, or otherwise affiliated with one of the Pioneer Valley’s 43 member communities, we invite you to connect with us to learn more about Land Use & Environment opportunities in your municipality and the region as a whole.

Contact Us

Catherine Ratte Portrait

Catherine Ratté

Director, Land Use and Environment Departmentcratte@pvpc.org
Ken Comia Portrait

Kenneth Comia, AICP

Deputy Director, Land Use and Environment Departmentkcomia@pvpc.org

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