Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Comprehensive Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Comprehensive Plan Update Committee forwards amended plan to board of selectmen for possible November ballot placement
Summary
After a brief presentation and a short public hearing with critical public comment, the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee voted unanimously to send a set of minor revisions to the town comprehensive plan to the board of selectmen for consideration of placement on the November town meeting ballot.
The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee voted unanimously on June 27 to forward the amended town comprehensive plan to the board of selectmen for possible placement on the November town meeting ballot.
A presenter summarized the committee’s work, saying the revisions were limited and ‘‘very minor in nature,’’ and described the edits as updates to the plan date and table of contents, corrections to prior dates and topographical references, some removal of language referencing higher-density development, and small wording adjustments in goals and strategies. The presenter also said a clean version and a supplemental document noting each change were posted online for public review.
The history of the plan was reviewed at the meeting: the update process began in 2020, meetings paused during COVID, joint workshops were held with the board of selectmen between January and April, and the committee approved the set of changes in May. The committee held tonight’s public hearing specifically to consider only those limited edits rather than to re-open the plan in full.
During the public comment period, one attendee who identified herself as Sue Butler criticized the process and said, "this plan will never pass," and another attendee asked about whether the selectmen could or would place land-use elements on a ballot. Committee members responded that the board of selectmen must hold its own public hearing and that the town attorney should be consulted about legal questions and ballot wording.
Speaker 5 moved to send the amended comprehensive plan to the board of selectmen for consideration; the committee confirmed the motion passed unanimously. Speaker 2 later stated the committee’s vote was ‘‘8 to 0.’’ The committee also completed routine business, approving minutes from a September 21, 2023 meeting and authorizing the chair to review and approve outstanding minutes so they need not reconvene solely for ministerial approval.
Next steps are procedural: the board of selectmen will hold its own hearing, decide whether to place the measure on the ballot, and—if placed on the ballot—voters will decide the measure at the town meeting in November. If the measure is not placed on the ballot or is rejected by voters, the board of selectmen may reconvene the committee to propose further changes.
The committee adjourned following those actions.
