Transfer of Development Rights - Conservation Subdivision Design

And Natural Resource Protection Zoning

Welcome! The Planning Board is exploring techniques to support the preservation of open space through the development process. Methods include Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), Conservation Subdivision Design (CSD), and Natural Resource Protection Zoning (NRPZ).

Information on Conservation Subdivision Design

  1. CSD Overview - Arendt (PDF)
  2. MAPC Booklet on CSD (PDF)
  3. MAPC CSD 4 Case Studies (PDF)

TDR is a program, allowed under State Law, that pairs the permanent protection of open space with the concentration of new development in existing growth centers. TDR programs are driven by private market forces and enabled by public sector planning and zoning bylaws. Littleton has been considering a TDR Zoning Bylaw. The TDR Working Group - Chair: Matthew Nordhaus (Select Board); Vice Chair: Bartlett Harvey (Planning Board); Will Pickard (Agricultural Commission); Rick Findlay (Littleton Conservation Trust); Amy Green (Conservation Agent) and Maren Toohill (Town Planner) have discussed a TDR Bylaw.

July 2022: TDR Working Group and Planning Board member Bartlett Harvey has provided this TDR summary (PDF); see also this information on prior appraisals (PDF). Planning Board discussed this information at their meeting of July 14, 2022.

Meetings of the TDR Working Group are posted to the Town website; public is welcome to attend. At the TDR Working Group meeting of Thursday, February 17, 2022, MAPC's Mark Racicot and Josh Fiala provided background information on TDR, and the work that MAPC has done with the Town on TDR (PDF).

From April through November 2020, the Planning Board, under grant funding from the EEA Planning Assistance Grant program, worked with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) on the potential for a "Transfer of Development Rights" program for Littleton.

November 2020 News: Agricultural Commission heard from MAPC's Mark Racicot, PB Member Jerry Portante, and Town Planner Maren Toohill on the current status of work on TDR.

Information for November 17, 2020 Discussion

  1. 1-page TDR Summary (PDF)
  2. Draft TDR Receiving Area Analysis for Discussion November 2020 (PDF)
  3. Draft TDR Receiving Area Value for Discussion November 2020 (PDF)
  4. Draft TDR Sending Area Analysis for Discussion November 2020 (PDF)
  5. MAPC Presentation on TDR (PDF)
  6. MAPC TDR Memo, Includes Draft TDR Bylaw (PDF)

August 2020 Update

  1. Draft Survey with Architectural Photo Examples (PDF)
  2. Existing vs. FBC Zoning Buildout Calcs for Littleton Common (PDF)
  3. June 18, 2020 TDR Presentation (PDF)
  4. Littleton TDR Survey Interim Results July 10, 2020 (PDF)
  5. MAPC Memo on TDR August 14 2020 - Includes Draft TDR Bylaw for Discussion (PDF)

Littleton TDR Calculations August 20, 2020

  1. Receiving Area Assessed Value (PDF)
  2. Receiving Area Residual Land Value (PDF)
  3. Sending Area Value (PDF)

TDR Survey

TDR survey is still open. Take the Survey!

Survey Flyer (PDF)

July 2020 Update

  1. Interim Survey Results July 10, 2020 (PDF)

June 18, 2020 PB Meeting

  1. Draft MAPC Presentation (PDF)

INTRODUCTION to TDR

  1. MAPC TDR Memo January 11, 2017 (PDF)
  2. March 5, 2020 PB Meeting Presentation - Transfer of Development Rights in Massachusetts (PDF)

April 2, 2020

  1. MAPC TDR Presentation - Town of Littleton TDR Study (PDF)