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Council sends draft 2025–2030 housing production plan to Planning & Development for further review
Summary
The Haverhill City Council voted unanimously to send a draft 2025–2030 Housing Production Plan, prepared with Merrimack Valley Planning Commission support, to the Planning & Development subcommittee for additional hearings and stakeholder outreach.
The Haverhill City Council voted 11-0 to forward the draft City of Haverhill Housing Production Plan (2025–2030) to its Planning & Development subcommittee for more detailed review and public engagement.
The draft plan, prepared with technical assistance from the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) and funded by a state grant, is intended to guide housing policy, support state certification and make the city more competitive for housing grants and housing‑choice designations. Community Development Director Andrew Herlihy described the document as “our draft plan,” and stressed the administration’s intent that it remain adaptable and open to amendment.
Why it matters: The plan compiles demographic and housing data, identifies village nodes and development opportunities, and recommends strategies such as activating the affordable housing trust, exploring starter‑home zoning, encouraging senior housing and pursuing the Good Landlord tax credit. Ian Burns of MVPC told the council that Haverhill is growing and that growth is expected to continue.
Councilors expressed interest in deeper review, faster outreach to developers, nonprofit partners and state representatives, and public advertising of subcommittee meetings. Councilor Mitchison moved that the council send the draft to Planning & Development and asked that developers, state representatives, and affected residents be invited; Vice President Jordan seconded. The motion passed 11-0.
Public input at the meeting included members of Haverhill Homes For All and other local advocates who urged the council to use the plan as an aspirational roadmap to preserve affordability and produce more units. Speakers asked the council to prioritize actionable production steps in addition to planning and research. Several councilors asked staff and MVPC to pursue state funding and to aim for housing‑choice community designation in future application cycles.
Next steps: The council’s referral sends the draft to Planning & Development for a detailed subcommittee process, stakeholder outreach and potential revisions before the plan would return to the full council and then be submitted to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for certification. MVPC staff said much of the grant timeline requires substantial progress by June 30, 2025, but that minor revisions could follow an initial subcommittee engagement.
Speakers on record included Andrew Herlihy (community development director), Ian Burns (MVPC), councilors and community members from Haverhill Homes For All.
