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Planning Board advances updated subdivision regulations for Town Meeting review
Summary
Staff and board members reviewed an updated package of subdivision regulation changes and agreed to submit it close to the current draft for Town Meeting consideration, with a request that members return comments by mid‑month to meet packet deadlines.
The Town of Hubbardston Planning Board reviewed proposed updates to the town's subdivision regulations and instructed staff to prepare the package for Town Meeting, asking board members to return any substantive objections before the packet deadline.
Leanne, who is coordinating the compilation, said selections in the draft were highlighted and that "I have to have our selections in by the end of May." Allan and other board members described the majority of changes as updates to outdated language and references to Massachusetts General Law, and the group signaled a preference to forward the package to Town Meeting with minimal substantive edits so it will not be delayed.
Board members flagged several technical points for further review before final adoption, including a wearing‑surface specification for roadways and driveways in the draft and cross‑references tied to scenic‑roads rules (tree cutting and whether scenic‑board approval is required for maintenance versus pleasure cutting). Staff said they would review those items and confirm whether state regulations or modern standards should replace older local text. The board agreed members should send comments by roughly the 15th so the agenda and packet can be published by the 14th for the next meeting.
The board also discussed republishing an administrative rule on timeliness for agenda submissions and making it available on the website so applicants know when materials must be submitted for inclusion on a meeting agenda.
Next steps: staff will compile board comments and return a revised draft for the next meeting; if no substantive changes are proposed, the board intends to forward the package for Town Meeting adoption per the established timeline.
