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Select Board refers Article 7 to Comprehensive Committee, approves technical fix to Article 15
Summary
Select Board members debated extensive rezoning proposals affecting thousands of parcels, voted 3–2 to refer amended Article 7 to the Comprehensive Committee for more review and engagement, and approved corrections to Article 15 as presented in supplemental materials.
The Town of Brookline Select Board on Nov. 19 debated several warrant articles that together would rezone large portions of the town and voted to refer one of them for additional study.
Maria Melli, senior planner in the regulatory division, explained that a correction was needed in Article 7 to restore previously intended design-review language and described how Section 5.22(c) (a 10‑year moratorium provision) interacts with finished attic or basement space. She said staff had inadvertently left the drafting error in the published text and recommended restoring the language.
Board members raised concerns about scale and notice: speakers said the package of Articles 7, 8, 9, 14 and 15 would affect roughly 8,500 parcels and that the community engagement this time was not comparable to prior outreach campaigns, which had included mailings, dozens of meetings and workshops. One member moved to refer the amended Article 7 to the Comprehensive Committee to allow further mapping, outreach and deliberation; the voice vote carried 3–2.
The board also considered technical corrections to Article 15 (setback language) identified by the Advisory Committee. After brief discussion the board approved Article 15 as amended in the supplemental materials. Staff noted legal uncertainty about how the state Attorney General might interpret the zoning act and cautioned about implementation risks tied to future state guidance.
The referral of Article 7 directs further review to the Comprehensive Committee; Article 15's corrected language was approved and will proceed to Town Meeting as amended.
