Legacy Boulevard Mixed-Use District Plan

Plan Overview

The Town of Dedham seeks to update zoning regulations in the Legacy Boulevard to understand the development potential and zoning necessary to support future economic growth. The Legacy Boulevard area is a critical economic engine for the Town of Dedham. The plan is expected to begin in Spring 2026 and conclude by summer 2027.

The study goals include:

  1. Conduct a collaborative community planning process for a regional economic center;
  2. Set the stage for future growth in a changing economy; and
  3. Incentivize public realm improvements and maintaining the Town’s commercial tax base.

Proposed Legacy Blvd Mixed-Use Plan Area ("Plan Area")

Background

The current zoning of the Plan Area, dating back to the 1990’s, does not necessarily support the potential future growth of the area. In addition, the historically commercial nature of the Plan Area is slowly undergoing change due to market dynamics and the steady shrinkage of the area’s retail/office market. With new development primarily focused on housing, the Plan Area is verging on becoming an “urban village”.



Scope of Work

To get ahead of these changes and plan proactively, the Town seeks to create a plan to harness the desirability of the Plan Area by promoting future economic growth, balancing impacts, addressing the Town’s housing needs, while ensuring a stable commercial tax base. The Town will embark on a community planning process by hiring a consultant team to work with the Town, Planning, and a 11-member Advisory Committee. The plan will include a market assessment, build-out analysis to understand future growth opportunities/constraints, and a comprehensive public engagement process. The result of the plan will be zoning and development guidelines submitted to the Planning Board for consideration.

The Advisory Committee will be comprised of elected officials and seven (7) Town of Dedham residents, students, business owners, and/or property owners, appointed by the Planning Board.

Plan Overview

The Town of Dedham seeks to update zoning regulations in the Legacy Boulevard to understand the development potential and zoning necessary to support future economic growth. The Legacy Boulevard area is a critical economic engine for the Town of Dedham. The plan is expected to begin in Spring 2026 and conclude by summer 2027.

The study goals include:

  1. Conduct a collaborative community planning process for a regional economic center;
  2. Set the stage for future growth in a changing economy; and
  3. Incentivize public realm improvements and maintaining the Town’s commercial tax base.

Proposed Legacy Blvd Mixed-Use Plan Area ("Plan Area")

Background

The current zoning of the Plan Area, dating back to the 1990’s, does not necessarily support the potential future growth of the area. In addition, the historically commercial nature of the Plan Area is slowly undergoing change due to market dynamics and the steady shrinkage of the area’s retail/office market. With new development primarily focused on housing, the Plan Area is verging on becoming an “urban village”.



Scope of Work

To get ahead of these changes and plan proactively, the Town seeks to create a plan to harness the desirability of the Plan Area by promoting future economic growth, balancing impacts, addressing the Town’s housing needs, while ensuring a stable commercial tax base. The Town will embark on a community planning process by hiring a consultant team to work with the Town, Planning, and a 11-member Advisory Committee. The plan will include a market assessment, build-out analysis to understand future growth opportunities/constraints, and a comprehensive public engagement process. The result of the plan will be zoning and development guidelines submitted to the Planning Board for consideration.

The Advisory Committee will be comprised of elected officials and seven (7) Town of Dedham residents, students, business owners, and/or property owners, appointed by the Planning Board.

Page last updated: 30 Jan 2026, 11:03 AM