Currently, 351 towns and cities in the state make individual land-use decisions and those decisions are usually made with only that town or city in mind. Increasing a local tax base through commercial development and limiting the number of children enrolled in local schools are usually local concerns but the larger issues of sprawl and congestion are creating greater concerns.

One of the major initiatives here is a bill authored by State Senator Marc Pacheo that would give cities and towns $35 million for technical assistance to create master plans. Governor Jane Swift has already established Executive Order 418, providing cities and towns with $30,000 to reexamine zoning and explore new ways to approach planning.

The Metropolitan Area Council, a regional planning agency for Eastern Massachusetts, has taken on an effort to identify planning problems and create a more effective plan for guiding development in this area. The Boston Society of Architects has also gotten into the act with a campaign to promote regional coordination on schools, transportation, housing and protecting natural areas.