A Planned Development Area (PDA) is an overlay zoning district that establishes special zoning controls for large or complex projects. PDA overlays allow for flexibility with promoting and accommodating large-scale, complex development in areas where underlying zoning would prohibit such development.
A PDA can be established in two ways:
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Areas that are larger than one acre with an approved developmental plan from the Boston Zoning Commission.
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Areas that contain no less than five acres, are not within a residential district and have a master plan for development.
Planned Development Areas are regulated by Article 80C of the Boston Zoning Code. Below is the process which PDAs must go through:
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Pre-Review Planning Meeting: Applicants can request a pre-review meeting with staff.
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Initiating the Review Process: The PDA would then be reviewed by staff once the applicant submits an official filing.
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Public Notice and Comment: After receiving documents, staff will publish notice of receipt and distribute the documents to the public for comments within forty-five days.
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Review and Approval: No sooner than sixty days, and no later than ninety days after receipt the BPDA Board shall consider approval of the plan and the petition to the Zoning Commission to approve the plan and designate the area of the proposal as a PDA.
Below are all the active Boston PDAs (and their attached amendments):