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Planning board adopts subdivision rule defining 'slope resource area' and limits construction on steep slopes
Summary
The Planning Board adopted a change to the town subdivision rules to define a 'slope resource area' (20% gradient, 15‑ft buffer, half‑acre minimum) and to prohibit certain subdivision‑scale construction within those areas; the vote was unanimous 5–0.
On March 17 the West Newbury Planning Board adopted changes to the town’s subdivision rules and regulations to add a definition of a “slope resource area” and to prohibit construction shown on subdivision plans within such areas. The board voted 5–0 to adopt the change as a planning-board regulation rather than a zoning bylaw.
Board member Ray Cook, who shepherded the revision, said the measure is intended to protect significant steep slopes and to avoid regulating minor yard undulations. The regulation defines steep slopes as a 20 percent gradient, requires a 15‑foot buffer around qualifying slope areas and applies only to slope areas of roughly a half‑acre or more. Ray explained that different communities use varying thresholds and that 20 percent is appropriate for West Newbury’s terrain.
The board also discussed adding an explicit definition of how slope gradient is measured (vertical rise divided by horizontal distance along the shortest path) and how this rule interacts with existing storm‑water and post‑construction requirements; the slope regulation addresses what areas should not be disturbed, while stormwater rules govern runoff and post‑construction controls.
Action taken: The planning board closed the public hearing and voted unanimously to adopt the proposed additions to the subdivision rules and regulations (5–0). The changes will be published in the town’s subdivision rules and regs and applied to future subdivision submissions.
Next steps: Staff will insert the agreed definition for slope gradient into the definitions section, and the board signaled it may revisit related post‑construction slope outcomes in a future hearing or coordinated review with storm‑water regulations.
