Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Hubbardston select board closes public hearing on multiple zoning bylaw amendments after extended discussion
Summary
The Select Board closed a public hearing covering four zoning bylaw amendments — accessory dwelling units, grid-scale battery energy storage, floodplain updates and site plan approval revisions — after detailed questions from board members and public. Staff said many changes are required by state law and aimed to modernize local processes.
The Town of Hubbardston Select Board closed the public hearing on proposed zoning bylaw amendments after an extended presentation and questions from board members and residents.
The hearing covered four major topics slated for the June town meeting: revisions to the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) bylaw, a grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) bylaw, updates to floodplain provisions to match state mapping and standards, and changes to the town's site-plan approval procedures.
Town Planner Alec Wade said the ADU changes are largely driven by state legislation that protects ADUs as a use type. "The state has chosen to protect ADUs as a use type," Wade said, meaning towns may not adopt rules that contradict state definitions. Under the draft before the town, ADUs would be allowed by right in all districts that permit single-family homes and would generally be limited to one ADU per property; additional ADUs would require a special permit…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
