Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment Water topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning board subcommittee to review groundwater ordinance; members flag map accuracy and PFAS questions
Summary
A planning board groundwater subcommittee is revisiting the town’s groundwater ordinance and maps, with members warning the changes could affect many properties in mapped aquifer areas; the group plans additional meetings and recommended notifying potentially affected landowners directly.
The council received an update on Jan. 14 about a Planning Board subcommittee reviewing a proposed groundwater ordinance and revised maps that could expand regulation in aquifer areas. Doug Knott, a Planning Board member who spoke to EDAC, said the subcommittee is starting from existing definitions and noted the work is data‑heavy and will take time.
“The ordinance could potentially impact everybody in these areas that’s near in the aquifer,” Knott said, urging careful public notification and map review. Members said the current maps are imperfect and that the committee must resolve mapping and definitional issues before moving forward; they also discussed whether municipal or private well owners will be affected and whether the ordinance should address PFAS contaminant policy.
The subcommittee has scheduled further meetings and plans to notify property owners who may be affected rather than relying solely on a blanket public notice. Members emphasized the need for accuracy and a deliberate schedule rather than rushing the changes; one member recommended direct outreach to property owners within the aquifer footprint.
EDAC heard that the groundwater discussions could produce substantial regulatory changes in some areas and that public education would be necessary before any ordinance is advanced to the Planning Board or voters.
The subcommittee reported it would not meet again until February because of scheduling conflicts and encouraged collaboration with conservation and other stakeholders while it refines maps and ordinance language.
