Epsilon staff are experts on the environmental permitting process. We work closely with our clients to provide guidance on the issues and expectations required before, during, and after the construction of a development project.
Real Estate Permitting
Services
Boston Planning & Development Agency Article 80 review process
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act
National Environmental Policy Act
Chapter 91
Greenhouse gas analyses
Article 37 of the Boston Zoning Code consulting
Local development review
Environmental Justice
Planning and Permitting Across Industries
We are known for our exceptional planning and permitting services. The projects we have permitted span a range of sectors such as commercial, residential, industrial, educational, and health care. We are able to take on any development project from multifamily buildings and downtown high-rises to large master-planned developments.
Our staff expertly manage and prepare environmental documentation in compliance with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Article 80, and local development review regulations. We provide related specialized reviews such as Chapter 91 licensing, MEPA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) analyses, Carbon Neutral Building Assessments, Article 37 review, MEPA Environmental Justice analyses, and noise modelling assessments.
Keeping Your Project On Track
We manage and develop the full suite of environmental documentation typically needed in Massachusetts, and Boston in particular, including Environmental Notification Forms, Environmental Impact Reports, Project Notification Forms, Notices of Project Change, and Project Impact Reports.
Developers trust us to develop a strategic permitting approach and implement cost-effective environmental analyses to receive entitlements efficiently.
Sustainability Services Covering Our Markets
Our knowledge of current greenhouse gas policies and protocols spans markets and projects. This knowledge, coupled with our experience delivering air quality solutions, provides an impressive combination that helps our clients navigate this rapidly changing field and regulatory environment.
Our planners and engineers offer sustainability and climate change services to our clients developing baseline inventories of GHG emissions, GHG compliance, and emission reduction strategies, as well as review under the City of Boston’s Carbon Neutral Building Assessment requirement. Through the implementation of logical, well-reasoned, and cost-effective sustainability programs our clients achieve and maintain compliance with new and evolving climate change regulations.
We also play a role with projects pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and projects subject to Article 37 of the Boston Zoning Code, which requires certifiability. Epsilon’s staff of LEED accredited professionals can guide clients through the LEED process, as well as coordinate with the City of Boston staff to achieve certification and meet the city’s requirements.
Specialized Environmental Justice Analyses
Specialized EJ analyses are often needed to support projects depending on the state’s regulatory requirements. Under MEPA these analyses include an assessment of vulnerable health criteria using the DPH Tool, and evaluation of all sources of pollution in an EJ area, and an evaluation using US EPA’s EJScreen. Often the environmental and health impacts to an EJ community require further evaluation to address concerns regarding any adverse or disproportionate impacts. This often includes evaluating air quality impacts from project-related stationary or mobile sources (e.g., car and truck trips associated with the project). Our experts, including our inhouse air modelers can deliver robust EJ and air quality analyses to address EJ concerns and secure the necessary permits for a project.
