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Winchester zoning commission sets hearings on zoning updates, home‑occupation and apartment modification; discusses site reviews
Summary
The commission scheduled public hearings for proposed regulation updates and two new applications (home‑occupation and a four‑unit modification), postponed a fire‑suppression regulation review to Feb. 7, requested site photos for a trucking operation, and discussed recycling and property remediation.
At its Feb. 9, 2026 meeting, the Town of Winchester Zoning Commission opened and scheduled several docket items and discussed other administrative matters, including training and site‑condition checks.
The commission opened (and then continued) zoning update dockets (PZ25‑20 and PZ25‑21) and postponed a specific proposed change to the town’s fire suppression requirements to Feb. 7 to allow staff to adjust language (staff said it would replace references to the Winchester Fire Department with 'Town of Winchester fire services' after consultation). The items remain on the commission’s schedule for additional review.
Under new business the panel set a public hearing for DCC‑26‑1 (applicant listed as Ashley Holm) for a home‑occupation permit at 309 Colbrook Road and scheduled PZ‑26‑2 (Paulson Law on behalf of Bachelor School Apartments) for Feb. 23, 2026 to consider a modification to a prior special permit to add four units at 179 Press Street.
Commissioners also discussed Mountaintop Trucking at 179 Colbrook and requested aerial photographs and the most recent survey to compare current conditions with those provided in the original application; staff agreed to check the file and bring back the latest survey. Members raised recycling and millings practices at local sites, referenced the Piper property and changes at a site identified as 'Picasso' or 'Yield' operations, and asked staff to track materials stored in wetlands and remediation conditions tied to prior approvals.
Staff and a commissioner said they will provide proposed floodplain zoning language and convene a focused workshop with land‑use attorneys to align Winchester’s regulations with House Bill 8002; the commission was reminded of an affordable housing Zoom training scheduled the next evening and noted some commissioners had trouble accessing the sign‑up link.
The panel approved Jan. 12, 2026 minutes and adjourned after roughly 22 minutes of business.
