Planning board weighs zoning changes to encourage small commercial and mixed-use development

At its Sept. 4 meeting the Acushnet Planning Board began a multi-step review of zoning changes aimed at encouraging small commercial and mixed-use development in parts of town.

Planner Victoria Alaro walked members through ideas she had circulated by email and in a prior presentation. She suggested starting with targeted amendments to the Business Village district to allow a mixed-use component, reviewing dimensional standards (setbacks, lot sizes), and revising parking requirements. "We really want to focus on zoning changes," Alaro said, and she recommended creating a table of uses so owners and staff can more clearly see what is allowed in each district.

Board members discussed possible geographic targets for modest commercial expansion, including extending commercial allowances up Main Street toward Leonard and Lake streets, with several members noting that sewer availability and ledge conditions limit where denser development is feasible. Members asked staff to seek a DPW map of sewer and water infrastructure and to consult the Board of Health about historic septic problems in older subdivisions.

Discussion also revisited the town's historical lot-size choices. One board member explained that the move from smaller (roughly 30,000 sq ft) lots to larger 60,000 sq ft lots was intended to preserve tree cover and limit runoff and septic failures; members said retreat-lot configurations had been used as a compromise to retain rural character while allowing family transfers of land.

The board agreed to continue the zoning conversation in coming meetings, to prioritize a small set of changes for the next review cycle, and to look for grants to support sewer extension where necessary to enable denser, mixed-use development.