Wells Select Board extends moratorium on large-scale development for 180 days

The Wells Select Board voted unanimously to extend the town’s moratorium on large-scale development for an additional 180 days, saying the extra time is needed to draft possible ordinances and evaluate infrastructure needs ahead of the June 2025 town meeting.

Planner Mike Livingston told the board the original moratorium period was ending and, under state statute, the board may extend it another 180 days. "That time should be used to look at additional ordinances, evaluate infrastructure in town, and that additional time is necessary for us to evaluate all those items," Livingston said. He noted planning and the board had recently placed several ordinance items on the ballot for voters.

At public comment, Zach Harding of Bridal Road said he supported an extension to study growth management and said summer traffic on Route 1 and Route 109 already strains the town’s streets. An attendee identified in the record as Speaker 6 praised the work getting ordinances on the ballot and urged the board also to address aesthetics, light and sound pollution and recurring loopholes that allow developers to evade codes. The town manager read a letter from resident Grace Trefaro urging a longer moratorium to protect forests, waterways and wildlife habitat and calling 180 days "far from enough."

After taking public comment, the board closed the hearing and approved the extension by a 4-0 vote. The extension is administrative and paused the processing of large-scale development applications while staff and boards review ordinance options and infrastructure implications for potential ballot measures in June 2025.

Next steps: staff and the planning board will continue review work during the extended moratorium period; the Select Board has not yet adopted specific draft ordinances, which would be presented before any town meeting vote.