Open Space Residential Design (OSRD) Bylaw
The Town of Harvard Planning Board is in the process of revising the Open Space and Conservation Planned Residential Development (OSC-PRD) Bylaw. Please bookmark this page if you want to keep up to date on the project including resources, public meetings and other outreach events.
Open Space Residential Design (OSRD) is an exciting but not particularly new concept that provides a much more environmentally friendly and town design aligned option for residential development, particularly in rural areas. The Town of Harvard already has a Bylaw called OSC-PRD but it isn't what it could be. This initiative was tabled as COVID-19 hit but the Planning Board is committed to bring this back for fall 2022 STM but will begin to discuss at Planning Board meetings throughout the spring and summer. For a catch up, please see link below to the Workshop conducted in March 2020.
Link to video: Open Space Residential Development Workshop w/ Randall Arendt
FINAL Revisions Open Space and Conservation - Planned Residential Development Sec. 125-35
Proposed Revisions Open Space and Conservation - Planned Residential Development Sec. 125-35
Other Resources
- Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) Summary Document
- North Carolina Conservation Subdivision Hardbook
- Green Neighborhoods Website
- Mass.gov Green Neighborhoods Page
- Mass Audubon Model Bylaw
- Mass Audubon Rapid Assessment
- Conservation Subdivision Design: A Brief Overview by Randall Arendt
- Growing Greener:Conservation Subdivision Design by Randall Arendt
For questions, please contact Frank O'Connor, Jr., at 978-456-4100 x.323 or FOConnor@Harvard-MA.gov anytime.