Beverly Releases Master Plan Draft

BEVERLY, MA — Eighteen months after beginning work on a comprehensive master plan to address the future of transportation, housing, climate vulnerability, arts, culture and social equity issues in the city, the draft of the plan was made public this week.

The process of compiling the plan included meetings, workshops, surveys and opportunities to review individual components of the plan. PlanBeverly said it was largely compiled in at the start of the spring when the coronavirus health crisis caused a shift in focus and delayed the release of the draft.

"The planning process facilitated a deep community-wide conversation about our hopes and dreams, our goals, and our shared values," Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill wrote in the plan's introduction. "It established how we approach needed economic and housing investments and how we secure the financial resources to deliver the high-quality, critical city services the people of Beverly count upon."

Cahill said the initial goal of the plan was to focus on environmental, fiscal and social sustainability, but that changes were made to also focus on social equity and opportunity following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, to reflect the city's commitment to act against racism and inequity.

"I committed to a meaningful and transformative community dialogue on race and racism, equity and opportunity, a dialogue that is long overdue in cities and towns across America. In Beverly, we commit to listen, to learn, and together commit to make the changes that are needed to ensure everyone in this city will feel and be safe in their daily lives."

The complete master plan draft can be found here.

A Planning Board meeting to discuss the plan Tuesday will be available for later review on BevCam.

Any questions or comments can be sent to planbeverly@beverlyma.gov.