Allen Penniman (far right) gives a presentation on Holyoke’s new comprehensive plan during the Sept. 8 Planning Board meeting.
Photo credit: Holyoke media
HOLYOKE — In an effort to outline a roadmap for Holyoke’s future, the city unveiled an updated comprehensive plan during the Planning Board meeting on Sept. 8.
Mayor Joshua Garcia said in a statement that this is an important step in shaping the city’s future with a focus on intentional growth, climate resiliency, transparent government and stronger neighborhoods.
Allen Penniman from Agency Landscape and Planning gave a presentation during the meeting. The Cambridge-based urban planning firm has been assisting Holyoke and its Planning Board since 2024 in developing the city’s next plan.
Penniman said there were nine pop-up events, 11 focus groups, four community listening sessions and over 1,000 community comments that contributed to the plan. The firm also analyzed recent and current studies that the city has already established and used a quote from Garcia to guide the plan: “A city that inspires, in constant growth, creating opportunity for all.”
The information gathered was condensed into four themes that organized the plan’s recommendations. The themes are Holyoke is ready for business, safe and compassionate, livable and welcoming, and sustainable and connected.
There is a set of goals for each theme, and for each goal, there is a set of strategies.
The four themes produced a future land use framework and how the city can organize land through zoning. The comprehensive plan also includes implementation pathways and action steps.
Internal actions include identifying who will help align the comprehensive plan with municipal priorities and outreach to residents. Penniman said Holyoke can also amend some zoning ordinances to support the plan and utilize tax incentives.
Other internal actions that Penniman highlighted in the plan include capital improvement schedules, building and aligning staff capacity, coordination between departments, updating programs and policies and prompt constituent response.
Externally, Penniman said Holyoke can also try to secure funding through state or federal grants, conduct fundraising campaigns and marketing.
Planning Board member Kate Kruckemeyer said that having a comprehensive plan is a necessity for a city because “there’s quite a lot of money that comes from the state and the federal government that requires the city to have a comprehensive plan in order for us to apply for that money. Our last comprehensive plan is more than 25 years old, so it was time for an update.”
Massachusetts General Law states that a city’s planning board is the body that creates and approves a comprehensive plan. She said that as a volunteer board, they did not have the capacity to create a plan on their own and partnered with Agency as their consultants to help with outreach and development.
The draft is now available for public review at Holyoke.org. The Planning Board did not vote on the comprehensive plan.
Kruckemeyer said the Planning Board needs to approve the plan. She said the board will take it up at its next meeting on Sept. 22, when every member is present. Although the plan is complete, she said the board wants to gather community input for implementation.
At the Planning Board meeting, Garcia said the city will begin increasing its outreach efforts within Holyoke neighborhoods over the next couple of weeks.
“We hope to be very strategic in that outreach in a way that allows us to establish a better pipeline connection to filter information from City Hall to the public and then from the public back to City Hall so that we can continue to work with those that volunteer, as well as our professional staff capacity.”
He said that once the Planning Board votes, he and the city will further engage with the community. “The plan is fluid,” Garcia said. “It’s an evolving document. It’s not necessarily anything that’s set in stone in a way that says you absolutely have to do this or else. Instead, it’s just going to help guide those conversations out with our community.”
The Holyoke mayor also said in a statement that the plan builds on the work his administration has already undertaken, including advancing fiscal responsibility and municipal finance modernization, investing in infrastructure and parks, revitalizing downtown, supporting housing development, strengthening public safety collaboration and supporting the city’s small businesses, arts and cultural institutions.
“For more than two decades, our city has operated under a master plan created for a very different era. Today, we are turning the page with a new comprehensive plan that represents a renewed commitment to intentional growth, transparent governance, climate resiliency and a stronger future for every neighborhood, resident and business in Holyoke,” Garcia said.
