Planning staff reports strong turnout for downtown plan; board defers Sustainable Westborough designee decision

Planning staff told the Westborough Planning Board on June 17 that the recent downtown plan public meeting drew about 132 attendees and was well received.

Staff said they will email meeting attendees tomorrow with the presentation and materials, post the recording and keep the public comment portal open for roughly a year so residents can add feedback. "We will compile all of the comments that we heard at the meeting and assemble a sort of matrix where people can see their comments," a planner said, adding staff will indicate whether suggestions are feasible, were incorporated or not.

Separately the board discussed whether to continue assigning a Planning Board representative to Sustainable Westborough. Planner Jenny Gingers said she had circulated a letter from Peter Dunbeck and noted the town’s sustainability coordinator, Ben Bowers, had given notice and was leaving at the end of the month; members worried about overburdening board members with committee service. The board agreed not to appoint a designee at the June 17 meeting and asked staff to clarify whether the Sustainable Westborough charter requires a Planning Board member or allows a non‑board designee; the matter will return to the board at the next meeting.

Next steps: staff to distribute presentation materials and compile public comments for a fall follow‑up meeting on the downtown plan; staff to check the Sustainable Westborough charter and report options for a designee.