Boston's Planning Chief to Step Down from Position

Arthur Jemison, Boston's top planning official for the past two years, is stepping down to return to Michigan. He announced his departure in a letter to staff, which was shared by a city spokesperson and initially reported by the Boston Globe.

Context of the Departure

Jemison's move comes shortly after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu achieved her goal of abolishing the Boston Planning & Development Agency to establish a city-run planning department. Jemison cited his need to be closer to his family, particularly his two children who are settled in high school, as the primary reason for his departure.

Interim Leadership

Devin Quirk, the Planning Department Deputy Chief, will serve as the interim chief following Jemison's last day on September 13. Mayor Wu expressed gratitude for Jemison's service and confidence in the remaining planning team to continue their work in making Boston inclusive and equitable.

Achievements Under Jemison's Leadership

Mayor Wu praised Jemison for his exceptional leadership and contributions to Boston’s growth, emphasizing affordability, resiliency, and equity. Jemison played a key role in several initiatives, including Article 80 Reform, Squares and Streets Plans and Zoning, and comprehensive zoning reform, which restored planning as a core city function.

Impact on Boston's Planning and Development

During his tenure, Jemison influenced various aspects of the city’s planning and development. He helped create the new planning department and oversaw the approval of over 170 projects totaling more than 40 million square feet of development. Additionally, the department approved 11,000 new housing units, including 3,790 income-restricted units.

Major Reforms and Initiatives

Jemison was instrumental in modernizing the large project review process (Article 80) and spearheaded the Squares + Streets zoning initiative. He also approved four new neighborhood planning guides for Charlestown, East Boston, Mattapan, and Newmarket.

Previous Experience in Boston

This role was not Jemison’s first in Boston. In the 90s, he worked as a planning manager for the Boston Housing Authority and as a regional manager for the Boston Redevelopment Authority between 1998 and 2000. Before returning to Boston in 2022, Jemison spent 18 months with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and six years in planning roles for the City of Detroit.