Orange commission adopts zoning amendments to comply with Public Act 25-1, establishes traffic mitigation district outline

The Orange Plan and Zoning Commission voted on July 7 to approve a town‑initiated petition to amend the zoning regulations to comply with Public Act 25‑1. The motion approves changes to Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 14, 17 and 25 of the Orange zoning regulations with an effective date of July 14, 2026.

Town staff summarized the principal changes: narrowed rules for nonconforming uses and clarifications on voluntary discontinuance; added statutory cross‑referenced definitions (for example, cottage food operations, family childcare homes, mixed‑use development and transit community middle housing); replaced fixed minimum residential parking standards with the new, bedroom‑based or parking‑needs approach required under the act (including no minimum parking for residential developments of 16 or fewer units); and added a provision enabling a conservation and traffic mitigation district (CTMD) along the Boston Post Road commercial corridor.

Staff noted that a CTMD must be submitted to the state Office of Policy and Management for approval and that the commission will publish and file the approved changes with the town clerk before the effective date. The commission set the effective date for publication and filing as July 14, 2026 and instructed staff to prepare the materials for OPM submission and proof of publication.

Commissioners moved, seconded and voted to approve the petition during the July 7 meeting after a brief discussion about boundary language for the CTMD and confirmation that the draft stays under the statutory 4% town land‑area limit for such districts.