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Plaistow Planning Board votes not to pursue RPC housing grant in full
Summary
After a lengthy discussion about benefits and obligations, the Plaistow Planning Board voted on a motion to pursue all aspects of an RPC housing grant and the motion failed. Members cited workload, limited town capacity, and concerns about zoning and density; the board left open narrower participation options.
The Plaistow Planning Board discussed whether to participate in an RPC grant on housing planning during the Sept. 18 meeting. Members reviewed options — participate in full, participate in part, or decline — and debated potential obligations such as changing zoning or preparing materials that could be used in future zoning amendments.
Opponents said Plaistow has a diversified housing stock and limited developable land: “I just don't think we should take the money,” one member said, citing the effort required and concern about downstream changes to zoning. Supporters argued that grant funds provide data and draft materials that make the town better prepared if mandates or challenges arise: "It's better to be informed than uninformed," a board member said.
When the board voted on a motion to participate in all aspects of the RPC grant, the motion failed; a subsequent question about pursuing some portion of the grant produced split responses and no clear majority for full participation. The board recorded a decision not to pursue the RPC grant in full and left open the possibility of limited or targeted participation at a later time.
Next steps: Staff to note the board’s preference and, if members later choose to pursue discrete parts of the grant, to return those items for future discussion.
