The Planning Board has completed its work on the town’s MBTA Communities Act final compliance plan after conducting a painstaking 90-minute review of the plan at its Sept. 24 meeting.
The board spent much of its time refining the language of a new site plan review bylaw drafted specifically for the parcel at 100-110 West St., a change that had been recommended at a Sept. 5 public hearing .
Board members struggled to thread the needle to provide themselves with meaningful regulatory authority while conforming to the act’s requirement that any project be allowed to proceed under the lightly restrictive by-right standard.
After lengthy discussion, the board reached consensus on language for the bylaw, but the final draft of the document has not been completed. Town Counsel Chris Heep took copious notes during the discussion and is charged with producing a version that reflects the consensus of the board.
The document needs to be completed by the end of business Sept. 27 to meet a deadline to draft the four articles that will be on the warrant for Town Meeting Oct. 21.
The board labored to find ways within its authority to push back against any proposed project it might find problematic even though it might be technically in compliance with the dimensional requirements of the zoning law.
The MBTA act requires communities to create a zoning district where multifamily housing projects are allowed by right, making it difficult — if not impossible — for the Planning Board to apply conditions to mitigate against possible negative impacts of a large or troublesome project that is otherwise compliant.
The board eventually came to agreement — or perhaps agreed to disagree — to let town counsel finalize their recommended language. It also voted unanimously to recommend Town Meeting vote in favor of all four warrant articles when it meets next month.
Town Meeting will vote on two compliance plans — a base compliance plan that achieves minimal compliance with the MBTA act and a neighborhood plan that would facilitate more potential units of housing. Town Meeting will also vote on the maps that accompany each plan.
The Select Board and Finance Committee will also vote on their respective recommendations to Town Meeting, probably in early October.
Save as PDF