Needham Housing Plan 2021

Final Plan

The final plan was approved by the Housing Plan Working Group (HPWG) on December 22, 2022. You may find the final plan and the HPWG's transmittal letter at the links below.

HPWG transmittal letter, dated January 5, 2023

Town of Needham Housing Plan, December 2022

Two maps in the plan are better viewed through these links (higher resolution):

Town Zoning Map: Proposed Zoning Changes

Town Zoning Map: proposed Zoning Changes (shown as updated map)

More information on the process can be found below.

Needham Housing Plan

The Town of Needham has not had an approved Housing Plan in place since 2007, although it has made considerable progress in producing affordable housing since then, adding 894 new affordable units and surpassing the state affordability goal of 10%. Despite reaching this threshold, the Town recognizes that significant unmet housing needs remain in the community, particularly in the context of unprecedented housing prices and the pandemic. Consequently, the Town has determined that it should revisit its housing agenda by obtaining updated documentation on the local housing dynamic and preparing a Housing Plan to strategically address identified priority housing needs.

Working Group

The Planning Board has appointed a Working Group comprised of representatives from appropriate boards and committees to work with staff from the Planning and Community Development Department in overseeing community outreach and preparing the document.

Natasha Espada Planning Board, Co-Chair

Jeanne McKnight Planning Board, Co-Chair

Emily Cooper Citizen At Large

Ed Cosgrove Board of Health

Carol Fachetti Finance Committee

Heidi Frail Select Board

Helen Gregory Council on Aging

Oscar Mertz Citizen At Large

Marcus Nelson Select Board

Michael O’Brien School Committee

Ed Scheideler Housing Authority

Rhonda Spector Citizen At Large

Meetings of the working group are open to the public and will be held on Zoom (at least to begin, they could move to in-person). Agendas and minutes will be posted on the website.

To receive updates on Housing Plan Working Group (HPWG) meetings subscribe to the Housing Plan Working Group Notify Me . You may also email planning@needhamma.gov using the subject line “Housing Plan Working Group".