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Bedford planning board debates 10 draft zoning amendments; asks for more data on assisted‑living impacts
Summary
Planning Director Becky Hiebert presented 10 draft zoning amendments for review ahead of December workshops and January public hearings. The board discussed measurement of retaining walls, limiting assisted‑living expansions in the Performance Zone to address emergency‑service strain, accessory‑unit changes tied to new state law, cottage‑court design and multifamily in commercial zones; members asked for data from emergency services and recommended refining ballot language and maps.
The Bedford Planning Board spent the second half of its Nov. 17 meeting reviewing a package of 10 draft zoning amendments that staff will refine in two December workshops and, if posted, public hearings in January. Planning Director Becky Hiebert walked the board through proposed changes to align local code with state law and local policy goals.
Key items and debate highlights:
- Retaining‑wall measurement (Amendment 1): Hiebert recommended clarifying that retaining‑wall height be measured from footing to top of wall to match the building code. Members supported clarifying the definition and discussed terraced (two‑tier) walls and engineering sign‑offs.
- Assisted‑living and nursing‑home uses (Amendment 2): Hiebert said Bedford has “a lot of beds for nursing homes and assisted living units” and argued that those land uses put strain on emergency services. She…
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