Lakeville master plan committee updates matrix, schedules Feb. 18 meeting and raises water, ADA and open-space items

The Town of Lakeville Master Plan Implementation Committee met and approved minutes for Aug. 20 and Oct. 7, 2024, scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 18, 2025, and reviewed several implementation issues including a state-funded update to the town’s Housing Production Plan, water infrastructure questions, an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sidewalk grant for Assawansett Elementary School and a draft open-space residential bylaw.

The committee, which the chair described in the meeting as “a non policy setting committee,” said its role is to maintain and update the master-plan implementation matrix and to coordinate with other town boards that hold decision-making authority. Committee members said the matrix is updated as projects change and that Rita Gabbitt has continued to maintain the document.

The meeting opened with the committee welcoming Andrew Soukforth, the town administrator, who said he had observed recent meetings “and [is] just hoping to help out as best I can and get implemented.” Following brief procedural business, the committee voted to approve minutes for Aug. 20 and Oct. 7, 2024; the transcript records the motions and the chair’s announcement that the minutes were approved, but specific named mover/second details and numerical tallies are not specified in the record.

Housing production plan and regional workshop

Committee members reported the town’s 2024 Housing Production Plan and related Priority Protection Areas (PPAs) and Priority Development Areas (PDAs) updates are now online. The committee said the state funded the update and noted the plan had not been updated since 2013. Planning-board staff Grant King and Michelle McEachern circulated materials to the committee; members were advised of a regional workshop in Bedford on Thursday the 19th and were encouraged to attend. The committee noted the Lakeville Country Club parcel appears on the regional map as a town priority.

Open-space residential bylaw and planning staff

Members discussed a draft open-space residential bylaw previously prepared by an entity referred to as SERP about five years earlier and said the bylaw has been circulated to the committee for review. The committee agreed open-space residential controls would likely be implemented by special permit rather than by a townwide zoning overlay and suggested Rocky Woods as a candidate area for protection.

The committee also discussed the town’s recently hired planner and proposed inviting the new planner, Nancy Durfee, to the Feb. 18 meeting so she can review the master plan and the committee’s implementation matrix as she settles into the position. Committee members said Durfee’s start date is Jan. 6, 2025, and recommended meeting with her early in her tenure so planning work stays aligned with the master plan.

Water infrastructure and data request

Committee members raised water infrastructure as a recurring constraint on development. During discussion the meeting record indicates an allotment figure of about 210,000 (units not specified in the transcript) and members said Taunton indicated willingness to increase allocation. Committee members noted several dead-end water-line runs in town that would benefit from looping to maintain flow and described recent water-line extensions near Clear Pond. The committee requested a GIS map from Taunton showing existing pipes, hydrants and related infrastructure to clarify supply and buildout constraints.

Assawansett sidewalks and ADA transition plan

On the implementation chart, committee members identified a $250,000 sidewalk grant for Assawansett Elementary School that was noted as resubmitted; the transcript indicates uncertainty among some participants about the current status and who is handling the reapplication. The committee also discussed a draft Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan and said the draft plan exists on the town website. Members asked staff to confirm whether sidewalk funding needs to be reapplied for and to update the website and the implementation matrix accordingly.

Procedural and next steps

The committee agreed to meet next on Feb. 18, 2025, at 6 p.m., conditional on quorum. Members asked staff to place the open-space residential bylaw, water-infrastructure mapping, and any questions for the new planner on the February agenda. The committee reiterated it does not set policy but coordinates updates and follows up with the select board and other decision-making bodies when actions or approvals are required.

Ending

With no further business, the committee adjourned at about 6:23 p.m.