Steve4Plymouth

03/26/2026

Last night, the Planning Board unanimously adopted a new Comprehensive Plan (formerly called the Master Plan) for Plymouth called Charting Our Future Together. This plan is the culmination of almost 5 years’ worth of work. I’d like to thank our consultant team (led by Stantec), our Town staff support (Town Manager Derek Brindisi and Planning Director Lauren Lind), and my fellow members of the Master Plan Committee (Kevin Canty, Art Desloges, Kevin Hood, Joe Hutchinson, Tom Jacintho, Jr., Tara Killory, Robert Morgan, and Emily Tompkins) for their dedication to a process that has resulted in obtaining more data and hearing from more residents in our community than any time in Plymouth’s history. But the work has only just begun. I encourage everyone to go to the link below and read at least the Executive Summary (to see where we are and the vision of your fellow residents) and the Implementation Section (to see the recommendations as to how we can accomplish our community’s goals).

Https://tinyurl.com:PlymouthCompPlan

03/13/2026

The proposed Plymouth Land Bank legislation is still pending before the Joint Housing Committee. They have until March 18 to report. Reports indicate that the committee supports all aspects of the proposal except the funding source (a real estate transfer fee on people moving into Plymouth with numerous exceptions to promote affordability), but offers no alternative other than more taxes on Plymouth residents. Plymouth is at its financial breaking point - we have no excess levy capacity, growth is slowing, and many people cannot afford to stay in our community. We need to preserve our aquifer, develop truly affordable housing options, and provide for future municipal services without further burdening the residents. Another tax only makes our community less affordable for residents and the businesses we rely on. Please join me in sending a letter of support for the proposed Land Bank to our state delegation. My letter and a sample letter can be found at

This site is dedicated to providing independent information regarding important issues and events in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

01/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined the presentation for the new Plymouth Comprehensive Plan (Master Plan) last week. If you weren't able to attend a recording of the presentation along with the draft plan and a new survey and comment form are now available on the project website:

https://tinyurl.com/PlymouthCompPlan

This Plan represents extensive work reviewing data, listening to residents, and performing analyses. The end result is a report which establishes the facts regarding Plymouth, identifies the goals of the community, and provides proposals as to realistic ways to potentially achieve them.

Please review the materials and provide your thoughts so that we can make this a plan that reflects the input of everyone. Questions can be referred to the Committee and Consulting Team through the website or feel free to reach out to me directly through my website www.steve4.plymouth.com or by email at [email protected].

11/21/2025

First phase of the Clark Road/Pinehills entrance improvements will be completed today with the activation of the traffic light at Pinehills Drive. Please pay extra attention as people get used to this change.

Please be advised the new traffic signal on Clark Road at the Pinehill’s Drive will be fully activated tomorrow morning, Friday 11/21, around 9:00 am. The Consultant and staff from the DPW will be present to confirm it is functioning properly.

11/13/2025

Friends,
The proposed Plymouth Land Bank is receiving its first “hearing” at the State House before the Joint Committee on Housing which will then decide whether to advance it for further consideration by the legislature.

** Notably, this committee will only be considering written testimony which must be received by noon on November 17, 2025.

Thank you to Representative Michelle Badger for letting us know of the deadline as soon as she was made aware, as the Joint Committee did not otherwise inform the Town.

Recent development proposals have demonstrated why we need the proposed Land Bank, which will allow us to protect sensitive land and encourage development of truly affordable housing that fit the needs and character of our community. I urge each of you to send testimony or a letter of support to the Joint Committee. It should contain the bill number, H3934, as well as your name, address, phone number and organization, if any, and be addressed to both House Chair Haggerty and Senate Chair Cyr as follows:

Rep. Richard Haggerty, House Chair
Sen. Julian Cyr, Senate Chair
Joint Committee on Housing
Massachusetts State House
Attn: Luke O'Roark
24 Beacon Street, Room 146
Boston, MA 02133

It may be submitted via email to [email protected] and [email protected]

As this is a housing committee, it is suggested that testimony stress the affordable housing component of the proposed Plymouth Land Bank.

For those wishing to submit testimony in support, more information about the proposed Plymouth Land Bank, a sample letter, and my own personal testimony can be found on my website www.Steve4Plymouth.com

Please support this effort to allow Plymouth to control our own destiny when it comes to critical land use decisions.

This site is dedicated to providing independent information regarding important issues and events in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

06/10/2025

The Town heard your comments on the Plymouth Community Master Plan Survey and made some changes to make it easier to complete. Please note that if you choose to do the strategy surveys this will take a little longer. You can select as many or as few of them as you wish. Unfortunately, you still can't make the survey "savable" so you can stop and then return (they did try).

You can access the survey on the Master Plan project website: https://engagestantec.mysocialpinpoint.com/plymouth

The survey has been extended until June 20, so please encourage everyone to take part.

05/09/2025

Thank you to Plymouth First, the candidates for Planning Board and Select Board, the Town, and moderator Julie Thompson for a truly different candidate forum last night. It featured challenging questions and debate amongst the candidates where opinions differed. If you were unable to attend or watch, it is now available for on-demand viewing online at: https://youtu.be/g1F7NuIg3DY?si=d7Si5NdSxdhmbgZj

The forum will also replay on Plymouth Government Access Channels during these days & times:

Tuesday May 13th at 7PM
Wednesday May 14th at 11:00AM

Early voting is underway and Election Day is May 17.

Your vote is your voice, and your voice matters!

Hosted by PlymouthFirst at the Great Hall in Plymouth Town Hall, a forum featuring candidates running for the offices of Planning Board & Select Board partic...

05/05/2025

Learn what the candidates for Select Board and Planning Board are proposing to address the issues that matter to you. The forum can also be watched on the Loca Seen YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com//streams

04/25/2025

Due to the forecast, the Plymouth Herring Run Festival has been moved to this Sunday, April 27. Hope to see you there!

04/16/2025

Last night was the Cape Cod Bridges forum held at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. It was hosted by State Senator Dylan Fernandes. Also present were State Representative Michelle Badger from Plymouth and State Representative Steve Xiarhos from Barnstable. This is part of a regular and ongoing series of public information sessions regarding the process for undertaking the replacement of the Cape Bridges, beginning with the Sagamore Bridge. A presentation in Plymouth is planned as part of this series.
As reported by the DOT officials present, the bridge design has been chosen. Based on public input as to both needs and aesthetics, it will consist of twin network tied arches with two lanes of travel traffic, shoulders, on and off ramp lanes, and a dual use bicycle/pedestrian area outside the traffic area. The permitting process is underway, including NEPA and MEPA filings. Site engineering studies will begin shortly.
The impact of this 8 year project will certainly be felt on Plymouth, particularly its most southern residents. That is why it is important that we remain updated on the DOT's plans. Information about the project can be found at

Addressing the aging Sagamore and Bourne bridges and the surrounding roadway networks is one of the most important transportation programs in the region.

04/10/2025

Following recent news stories about our affordable housing and potential further 40B proposals in Plymouth, residents have again asked why Plymouth doesn’t stop these developments. Here are the facts:

To be clear, it’s not because we don’t know how, or we don’t try, or we are controlled by the developers.

- Plymouth does oppose appeals of Town zoning permit denials to the state Housing Appeals Committee (HAC).

- And each time we have, the HAC has overturned the Town’s denial and allowed a 40B project to proceed.

This happens because the state has made creation of new housing a priority. To that end, it has appointed officials and enacted laws for the express purpose of making it essentially impossible for municipalities to avoid these types of housing projects.

Under Massachusetts law, both the HAC and the courts are obligated to place the need for affordable housing over any other general municipal concern – that includes open space, economic development, traffic, schools, infrastructure, taxes, etc.

- Other than proving that a project will violate health codes or safety standards, the only way to avoid these projects is for a town to have 10% of its total year-round housing deeded as affordable. Plymouth currently has 7.2% affordable housing.

Plymouth is not alone in being unable to stop 40B projects. Since new standards for opposing 40B projects were adopted by the HAC in 2016, the HAC has not denied a single 40B project based on other municipal concerns. And every one of those approvals which has been appealed has been upheld by the courts.

Politically we cannot change the state 40B mandates and legally an appeal of the types of 40B projects being proposed in Plymouth would be expensive and ultimately futile. What we can do is focus our efforts on promoting affordable housing that makes sense for our community.

If you are interested in learning more about 40B housing, including the statutes and cases which show why 40B challenges fail, please visit my website at www.Steve4Plymouth.com

There is a Q&A on the Homepage and greater detail under the 40B Housing tab.

Send a message to learn more