Planning board continues master plan update, requests updated maps and analyzes limited commercial zoning near Wakefield line

Board members continued work on a multi-section master plan update, discussing format, data needs and a proposed schedule. Staff said some sections remain to be finalized and that the planning commission can provide updated maps if the board supplies a clear list of required map updates.

Members reviewed population and community-profile figures included in the packet, noting the town population cited in earlier documents and expressing uncertainty over projections. One member summarized recent population figures and asked staff to update the community profile tables. The board agreed to request updated maps from the regional planning commission, identifying specific map types they want updated and suggesting staff meet with the commission's mapping expert.

The board also discussed whether to create a limited commercial zone near the Wakefield line, where commercial opportunities could be tied to an existing industrial park. Members weighed potential tax revenue against the small scale of likely commercial development and the town's expressed preference for preserving rural character. The board asked the assessor (Rod Wood referenced) to provide ballpark numbers on how much tax revenue rezoning a parcel might yield before advancing any zoning changes.

Members set a tentative schedule: compile sections and circulate drafts by August, solicit public comment in September, and aim for formal review and a public hearing later in the fall. They also discussed outreach methods including surveys, email lists and committee input; past survey response rates were noted as a limiting factor.

Provenance: Master plan section-by-section discussion, mapping requests, population figures, and the commercial-zone debate are recorded in the meeting transcript and packet materials.