Newcastle planning board recommends sending proposed Thoroughfares (Article 3) draft to select board; schedules public hearing

The Newcastle Planning Board voted June 18 to recommend that a comprehensive rewrite of the town's roads, driveways and entrances rules (proposed Article 3, "Thoroughfares") be forwarded to the select board for public hearings and possible placement on a special town meeting warrant.

The Chair summarized the draft as a consolidation of the existing standalone ordinance into a single Article 3 of the core zoning code, with a new classification system that divides thoroughfares into five street types (urban) and five road types (rural). The draft also includes a townwide inventory and map that lists each road segment's ownership, zoning district and suggested classification. "If we adopt it, it would bump all the other ones down," the Chair said, describing how the new Article 3 would reorganize code sections and produce more consistent review standards.

Board members discussed staffing and implementation: the board was told the town planner (Mr. Martone) resigned; the town manager is exploring interim assistance from the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission to handle application reviews and prepare findings of fact. Committee members welcomed that support but said the loss creates a short-term workload concern.

Members focused much of their discussion on the inventory and map. Proponents argued a codified inventory reduces ad-hoc classifications when projects arrive: "If we classify every section of every road in town now, then it's done," the Chair said, adding the inventory gives planners and applicants a single reference. Other members raised accuracy and presentation concerns: one committee member flagged a stretch of Route 1 that the inventory labels a "rural road" despite surrounding highway-commercial zoning and noted several apparent map color/legend glitches for Timberlane and Stonebridge Circle. The board agreed those items need correction before public hearings.

The draft also adds explicit language coordinating the town's authority with the state Department of Transportation. Board members emphasized that DOT-owned corridors (notably R4/R5/highway-designated stretches) will remain under DOT engineering and control; any changes on those stretches would be subject to DOT review. The Chair noted the draft is intended as town guidance for DOT corridors rather than an override of state authority.

Safety and use issues came up. A member said the draft's illustrations showing more on-street parking raised safety worries in narrow village streets, citing concerns about vehicle dooring and backups; "I just worry about on-street parking because it's just when somebody's, nobody pays attention anymore," the member said. The Chair responded that illustrations are demonstrative and can be adjusted and that real changes on DOT-owned Main Street would require DOT engineering and approval.

Timeline and next steps were confirmed in the meeting packet: the Planning Board tentatively set a public hearing for July 16 and discussed the memo from the town manager proposing a select board special meeting / town meeting process aimed at a possible August 10 special town meeting warrant. The Chair and members emphasized the draft remains amendable: they expect multiple public hearings and opportunities to adjust text and map entries based on public feedback.

On a motion by the Chair to recommend forwarding the proposed Thoroughfares (Article 3) draft to the select board, the Planning Board voted in favor. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the Chair announced the motion passed and said the recommendation will be conveyed to the select board along with a request that the select board hold public hearings if it places the item on a warrant. There were no public comments at the meeting.

The board agreed to correct identified map errors, add or confirm the glossary/definition section in the circulated packet, and to prepare a short executive-style summary explaining what the draft does and does not change before the public hearing. The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.