Planning Board's Proposal To Eliminate Concept Plan Approval by Town Meeting Draws Skepticism, Incredulity [with video]
"I have no idea of what you just said, and I am sure that a large portion of the voters will feel the same way," Selectman Jack Petropoulos told Land Use Director Michelle Collette after she explained the two Planning Board articles slated for Fall Town Meeting Warrant that propose to amend zoning bylaws to eliminate the Concept Plan that is approved by voters, and replace it with "planned development districts" under a Special Permit that will be granted vote of a majority of the Planning Board.
He asked Collette to "really work hard to create a simplified version for Town Meeting" so people will know what they are voting on. Colleague Stuart Schulman agreed; "This needs to be a lot clearer. There is a lot of variation in projects." He noted these may be worthy articles, but the electorate will have a lot of questions.
These 'planned development districts' will affect retail stores, business or professional offices, banks, and restaurants or other places serving food. Currently, these businesses are allowed by-right. Other than Site Plan Review by the Planning Board, the only other review is at a Town Meeting where a two-thirds vote is required for the proposal to pass.
The Planning Board believes that the Concept Plan is on dubious legal footing in light of a court ruling regarding the town of Bellingham. Collette said that this is, "A measure to protect the town."
Selectman Chairman Peter Cunningham responded, "The Concept Plan has worked well in town. People want to see what is going to happen."
According to Collette, the Planned Development Districts concept was put forward by Judi Barrett of Community Opportunities Group who has been serving as a consultant on the updating of the town's Master Plan.
The second article will enable the Planning Board to become the permit granting authority for motels, hotels or inns instead of through a Special Permit issues by the Zoning Board.
Selectman Anna Eliot asserted, "These two articles are premature," and suggested that all changes being planned by the Planning Board should be addressed at one Town Meeting. Referring to an earlier comment from Collette that there will be more amendment changes proposed in the future, Eliot said she didn't "want this to be piecemeal approach. Until the Planning Board can bring a comprehensive proposal for zoning changes, it will just confuse the voter. This warrants a whole Town Meeting to discuss these (all the planned changes) and vote on them," she said.
Collette cited the success of these 'planned development districts' in the towns of Lincoln and Burlington. "The threshhold will be the size of the retail uses. I understand the need to look at one picture and I will take this back to the Planning Board."
