Rockland officials are confronting a staggering 48% increase in median home values over the last five years by launching a coordinated effort to balance aggressive housing needs with the protection of the town’s remaining open spaces. During a recent planning summit, Town Planner Allison Quinn revealed that Rockland is participating in a pilot program with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to simultaneously update the Housing Production Plan (HPP) and the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP).

Rockland is a short-staffed town, Quinn explained, noting that merging the two state-required plans saves both time and money. We merged these two efforts to not only save money and time, but also to be able to demonstrate how these two things do not have to be in contrast with one another. They are complimentary features. Quinn emphasized that maintaining these plans is a prerequisite for securing state grants, such as those used to acquire the 36-acre McCarthy Farm. Without an active HPP, Quinn warned, the town risks losing its Safe Harbor status, which grants local leaders more control over the size and location of subsidized housing developments.

Select Board member Steve O'Donnell highlighted the inherent tension in town planning, describing the competition for land as a zero-sum game between developers and conservationists. Folks appointed to these committees have different goals, O'Donnell said. The housing production plan folks want to see affordable housing built. The open space and recreation plan folks are thinking about parkland, preserving our waterways, and space for wildlife. He noted that Rockland’s blue-collar identity is being tested by the regional housing crisis, pointing out that a family of four earning $100,000 now qualifies for affordable housing assistance. O'Donnell argued that the new plan allows residents to dictate where multi-unit projects belong, such as the Hingham Street hotel district, rather than seeing them stick out like a sore thumb in single-family neighborhoods.

While the planning efforts map out a vision for the next decade, the town’s aging infrastructure remains a significant bottleneck. Sewer Department Head Dave Taylor detailed the financial pressures of operating under a 2020 EPA administrative order and a full sewer moratorium. Taylor reported that the department recently implemented a rate hike to cover a $400,000 deficit, driven largely by inflow and infiltration (INI) issues where rainwater overwhelms the system. Once you go over a certain level, you have SSOs (Sanitary Sewer Overflows), Taylor said. Without extra money coming in from development, that burden goes to the taxpayer. The town is currently advancing a $35 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade, with $32.5 million anticipated through the state's Clean Water Trust.

Water Superintendent Crystal Cameron shared more positive news regarding water quality, announcing that the town’s PFAS mitigation project has been fully operational since May 4. The project, funded by a $26 million 0% interest loan shared with Abington, was necessitated after Rockland proactively discovered PFAS levels exceeding state limits. However, Cameron cautioned that the town is reaching the limits of its state-mandated Water Management Act permit. We’re between a rock and a hard place wanting to promote growth but being in a situation where the supply is pretty limited at this moment, Cameron said, noting that only roughly 50,000 gallons remain on the current permit.

To address these limits, the town is exploring innovative revenue and infrastructure solutions. O'Donnell and Quinn discussed the ongoing capping of the Pleasant Street Landfill, which is expected to generate millions of dollars in tipping fees that the town can reinvest into capital projects and open space development. Additionally, Quinn is pursuing a One Stop for Growth grant to study a secondary effluent discharge facility in North Rockland. If successful, Taylor estimated the facility could take up to 350,000 gallons of flow offline from the main plant, effectively bypassing the current moratorium and adding much-needed capacity for new housing.

The discussion also touched on regional cooperation, specifically regarding Camp Sayre. Following a vote by the town of Whitman to reject a private sale of the former girl scout camp, Rockland is moving to acquire the land using Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds. This acquisition is a key component of the Green Necklace vision, which aims to create a continuous buffer of protected land around the downtown area and the former naval air station.