Planning Board, Selectmen Adopt First Housing Production Plan
Essex adopts first Housing Production Plan to address affordable housing shortage. The Planning Board and Board of Selectmen unanimously approved "Welcome Home, Essex" on January 21 after incorporating nine revisions from board members, including corrections to terminology, parking-strategy
Planning Board · Meeting of January 21, 2026
Essex adopts first Housing Production Plan to address affordable housing shortage. The Planning Board and Board of Selectmen unanimously approved "Welcome Home, Essex" on January 21 after incorporating nine revisions from board members, including corrections to terminology, parking-strategy language, and property-outreach provisions. Chair Lisa O'Donnell and Town Planner Valerie Massard oversaw the final document, which targets 22 strategies and eight affordable units annually to move Essex from 2.58 percent to 10 percent of its housing stock designated as affordable.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 395 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of January 21, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
Members read the rest of this story and every Essex meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this brief
Know someone in Essex who follows town government? Share Townbrief Essex: they can sign up free.