Lori Massa
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
Ever wonder who helps shape the future of Melrose?
Not just what gets built, but how our city grows, how neighborhoods stay livable, and how we balance housing, transportation, green space, and historic character.
Much of that work happens behind the scenes — and one of the people doing it is Lori Massa, Melrose’s Director and City Planner.
For Lori, planning isn’t just a profession. It’s personal.
Growing up, her father had MS and spent the last ten years of his life in a wheelchair. Navigating the world with him meant constantly thinking about accessibility, how sidewalks, buildings, and public spaces either welcomed people in or shut them out. That experience shaped how she sees the built environment.
“Figuring out how to get around to accessible places and how our built environment impacts our quality of life was something I thought about a lot growing up. It’s a big part of why I’m passionate about this work.”
Lori studied psychology at Bates College before earning a Master’s in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She spent nine years as a City Planner in Somerville before coming to Melrose a decade ago. Today, she serves as Director of the Office of Planning and Community Development, helping guide how our city evolves.
And if you think the job is just about approving buildings, think again.
Every day can involve housing policy, zoning law, infrastructure planning, transportation, sustainability, grant funding, and long-range planning. She works with homeowners, developers, engineers, architects, elected officials, and volunteers serving on city boards and commissions.
Planning is also about navigating the realities cities face today. State housing laws, regional transit requirements, and economic pressures all shape what communities must plan for. The challenge is figuring out how to meet those requirements while protecting the character and livability of a place people love.
Massachusetts housing legislation tied to communities with MBTA commuter rail access requires cities like Melrose to create zoning that allows for more housing near transit corridors. Local planners help interpret those laws, guide the public process, and work with boards and officials to determine how those requirements can fit into the fabric of the community. It’s complex work that involves balancing state mandates, local priorities, and the long-term health of the city.
And Melrose, Lori says, has a lot going for it.
“It’s a bedroom community with great bones — an incredible downtown, green spaces, and commuter rail access.”
She’s currently working on several initiatives, including plans for a new walking path around Ell Pond, along with ongoing efforts tied to Melrose’s Master Plan, Housing Production Plan, Open Space Plan, and sustainability goals.
Outside of work, Lori’s life looks a lot like many other Melrose families. She has two children in the Melrose Public Schools, spends time fixing up her old house, gardening, and hosting dinner parties.
Lori hopes more residents will get involved in shaping the city’s future.
Melrose relies on volunteers to serve on boards and commissions, and there’s a simple form on the city website for anyone interested in applying.
Those volunteers, she notes, deserve enormous credit. “They spend countless hours reviewing projects and often have to make very difficult decisions for the community.”
City planning is rarely simple. It requires patience, expertise, and the ability to look decades into the future while listening carefully to the concerns of residents today.
For the past ten years, Lori Massa has been doing exactly that — helping Melrose plan for growth while protecting what makes this community special.
