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Bolton commission weighs state housing mandate, submits two sites for regional review
Summary
Bolton officials discussed compliance with House Bill 5002’s Priority Housing Affordability Plan, submitted the 20‑acre Cider Mill and drive‑in properties to CRCOG for suitability analysis, and debated sewer, septic and density limits tied to EDUs.
Patrice Carson, AICP, consulting director of community development, told the Planning & Zoning Commission on June 11 that the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) is conducting a housing suitability analysis and Bolton submitted two 20‑acre sites — the Cider Mill property and the drive‑in property — for consideration as potential multi‑family housing locations.
The discussion centered on meeting a state mandate under House Bill 5002. Chairman Tom Manning said the town must prepare a Priority Housing Affordability Plan that includes an inventory of vacant and developable land and noted the plan could make Bolton eligible for priority consideration for infrastructure funding. Manning also flagged the state requirement that some business zones must accept up to 12 housing units as a point of concern for local zoning practice.
Why it matters: the CRCOG assessment could produce a project proposal and conceptual rendering to present to developers; that outcome would guide whether Bolton pursues zoning changes, overlays such as incentive housing or transit‑oriented development, or infrastructure investments to support higher density.
Commissioner Tom Crockett raised questions about unit limits on the drive‑in property, noting sewer capacity constraints. Arlene Fiano responded that the restriction is tied to the available sewer capacity and the number of Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) the Bolton Water Pollution Control Authority (BLRWPCA) is willing to provide. Patrice Carson said she was unsure whether CRCOG would consider sites that rely on septic systems, and Chairman Manning noted both candidate sites sit on a stratified drift aquifer that can complicate septic installation; he said that feasibility will be analyzed as part of CRCOG’s review.
Members discussed options for securing infrastructure funds, including a prior incentive housing overlay application and an opt‑in for transit‑oriented development. Carson said the town would need to weigh mixed‑use requirements and high‑density thresholds in any overlay application and added that the state bill provides no dedicated local funding to meet mandates.
The meeting did not include any formal zoning changes or votes on the sites; commissioners agreed to continue work on documentation and to supply technical data to staff for further review. The PZC approved its meeting minutes and adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
