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Plaistow planning board continues contentious wetlands buffer changes after hours of public comment
Summary
Residents and board members clashed over proposed buffer sizes and ballot language for prime wetlands; the Planning Board continued the public hearing to Jan. 15 to align the buffer changes with a map designation and to clarify the voters' guide.
The Plaistow Planning Board on Dec. 18 continued a heated public hearing on proposed changes to wetland buffer setbacks after more than an hour of public comment and detailed questioning from board members.
At issue was zoning amendment Z25‑8, which would revise buffers for "prime wetlands" and related setbacks — the limited‑use buffer, parking and structure setback, and wastewater system setback. The measure's voters' guide initially framed the change as a reduction in some recommended buffer sizes, but several residents said the wording was misleading because the town currently has a placeholder for larger prime‑wetland buffers that have not yet been mapped.
"This whole process has been bastardized," said Brian Labreck, a Plaistow resident, who urged clearer language in…
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