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Templeton planning board backs EPA/DEP stormwater bylaw language, votes not to recommend three citizen petitions
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Summary
At a March 25 public hearing the Town of Templeton Planning Board voted to forward an EPA/DEP-updated stormwater management bylaw to the May 2026 warrant and voted against three citizen petitions: a moratorium on battery energy storage systems, a "manufacturing heavy" definition, and a 360‑day moratorium on data centers.
The Town of Templeton Planning Board on March 25 recommended forwarding a revised stormwater management bylaw to the May 2026 annual town meeting and voted to not recommend three citizen petitions that would have imposed moratoria or broadened zoning definitions.
The chair opened the board's public hearing and read articles on zoning changes and citizen petitions. Staff told the board that the stormwater article would replace the town's existing stormwater management bylaw with language recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection, and said much of the change reflects mandated language. The board moved, seconded and voted to recommend that article for the warrant.
Why it matters: Adopting the EPA/DEP-recommended language aligns local rules with state and federal technical standards for stormwater management; staff characterized the change as largely procedural and protective of stormwater quality.
The hearing also drew three citizen petitions. One sought a moratorium on battery energy storage systems (BESS) in all zoning districts through May 12, 2027. Committee members and the chair raised safety and scope concerns; one committee member said such systems can be “potentially dangerous” if a battery fire occurs, while a staff member said the Board of Health is already drafting stricter BESS regulations and will circulate drafts to other boards for review: “Through the Board of Health, we have begun the process of creating more strict regulations for BESSs.” The board voted to recommend against the moratorium.
Another petition proposed adding a “manufacturing heavy” definition to the zoning bylaws (section 300‑7). Staff read the proposed language describing large‑scale machinery and high‑volume freight operations; board members said the wording was broad and risked shifting interpretation of permitted uses. The board voted to not recommend that change.
A third petition asked for a 360‑day moratorium on data centers to allow the town to study potential impacts on electricity, water and decommissioning. Board members discussed that data centers are large facilities that use substantial electricity and water and observed existing mechanisms, such as decommissioning bonds used for other projects. Because the petition authors were not present to clarify objectives and the board did not see sufficient reason to pause permitting, the board voted to not recommend the moratorium.
Votes at a glance: The board approved minutes from March 10 unanimously; it voted to defer two previously submitted warrant articles pending an attorney general review (AG review extended to April 29, 2026); it recommended forwarding the stormwater management bylaw to the warrant (board vote in favor); and it voted to recommend against the BESS moratorium, the manufacturing‑definition change, and the data‑center moratorium.
Next steps: The board closed the public hearing and confirmed the next meeting date and some membership scheduling. The recommended stormwater bylaw will appear on the May 2026 town meeting warrant; the citizen petitions proceed as advisory recommendations to town meeting and the warrant process.
