Land use planning provides vital information that allows our clients to understand and make informed decisions about their development options.

New neighborhood being built, Fieldstone Way, Wellesley, MA

Data Collection

The first step is gathering data about the site and its surroundings. Topographic and detail surveys, wetlands and environmental considerations, and soils data are key factors in determining the best use of a parcel.

Regulatory Review

State, local, and federal regulations — such as zoning by-laws, wetland regulations, and stormwater management requirements — require careful review. How these regulations apply to your project, and which jurisdictional regulations apply, often determines if a project can be permitted for construction.

Careful Planning Leads to Permitting

The planners and engineers at Merrill work with these regulations on a daily basis. We know the best way to initiate and plan a project, large or small, and help clients optimize the permitting process through careful planning and development of conceptual design alternatives.

Typical Land Use Planning Services

  • Development feasibility studies
  • Local by-law and regulations review
  • Concept planning
  • Preliminary site layouts
  • Presentation drawings and reports
  • Traffic studies
  • MEPA filings
  • Land use consulting
  • Aerial photography
  • Wetland delineations

Recent Land Use Projects

Drone view of Plymouth Harbor during Plymouth Yacth Club dredging project

Plymouth Yacht Club Dredging

Today, boaters can safely berth their boats at the Plymouth Yacht Club, but that wasn’t always the case.…

New home, Bristol Estates

Bristol Estates

Six high-end residential homes tucked away in a rural setting and acres of woodlands.

Home with large dock at the mouth of a river in Marshfield, mA

249 Bay Ave

This project involved the razing of 3 pre-existing non-conforming structures and the reconstruction of one new single-family dwelling…

“The team at Merrill are able to take extremely complicated concepts and turn them into viable, permitted projects. Their experience, creativity, and problem-solving skills, combined with extremely high standards and ethics, translate into a great all-around experience for the client. I have worked with the Merrill team on multiple projects and have always been thrilled with their work product. It’s a pleasure to do business with them.”

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