Planning Board
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Meeting Minutes
Members present: Ryan Stone, Courtney Cox, Jon Miner, Andrew Maneval, Don Scott, Lisa Anderson and Sarah Kendall
Attendees: Paul Clark
Attendance, Roles and Voting Members – The voting members for the evening were Ryan Stone, Courtney Cox, Andrew Maneval, Lisa Anderson and Jon Miner.
Approval of Agenda – With Mr. Cucchi’s decision to pursue relief from the ZBA, the conceptual consultation item was removed from the agenda. With this amendment, the PB approved the agenda.
Minutes of previous meeting(s), 5/14 – Mr. Maneval moved to approve the May 14 minutes. Courtney Cox seconded. All voted in favor.
PB Secretary Vacancy – Members discussed the process for filling vacancies, noting that, typically, the Select Board appoints a candidate to fill a vacancy, but that the role can also be filled when a current PB alternate expresses interest in becoming a full member, with the SB approving the nomination.
Following discussion, Lisa Anderson moved to name Jon Miner as a full member and as Board Secretary. Andrew Maneval seconded. All voted in favor. Members noted the secretary duties, formerly filled by Pete Thayer, include signing plats, and submitting to the Registry of Deeds approved plats with notices of decision and fees collected from applicants.
Housing Committee – Paul Clark updated the PB on the work of the Affordable Housing Committee (AHC). Now in the implementation phase, the team has 9 members focused on carrying out the recommendations from the research report to secure more affordable housing and pursue needed zoning changes to make this a possibility.
Within the committee, six working teams have the following titles/missions: 1) Housing needs and land connection team to match people in need with potential opportunities; 2) Local builders and designers for feasible design ideas; 3) Developer partnership team to find mission-driven, rather than profit-driven, developers; 4) Tools, templates and technical resource team to create step by step resources to guide property owners who may want to construct ADUs; 5) Communication and community engagement team; and 6) a Policy and zoning strategy team to develop balanced zoning ordinance language.
The AHC is filing a grant for outside professional expertise to assist with this implementation phase. Mr. Clark will also meet with the Select Board to discuss this, and a possible contribution by the town. Mr. Maneval suggested the group meet with the Ordinance Review Committee of the PB as soon as possible. The PB also recommended that the housing group subcommittees familiarize themselves with the site plan review and subdivision regulations.
PB Rules of Procedure – Members returned to proposed edits for the Rules of Procedure, last revised in 2018. Extensive suggestions were made and discussed. Mr. Stone will incorporate the suggestions. The board will continue with the document next month.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.