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Planning Board postpones solar ordinance review; Select Board prepping Social Districts and C‑Pace warrant articles
Summary
The Planning Board deferred review of a draft solar ordinance to Feb. 25. The Select Board is preparing Town Meeting warrant articles including a C‑Pace program and a Social Districts measure; Town Administrator Christine Goodwin also noted a state bill to repeal a solar installation exemption and asked for volunteers to record a zoning‑amendment video.
Chair Steve Carten told the Board that the solar ordinance review would be postponed to the Planning Board workshop on Feb. 25 due to the absence of Vice Chair David Shirley, who is developing that ordinance.
Select Board representative Don Milbrand reported that the Select Board is preparing warrant articles for Town Meeting, including an item to authorize participation in a C‑Pace program and a Social Districts warrant article that would allow the Select Board to designate certain public areas where patrons of dining and drinking establishments may gather outside of the establishments for social purposes.
Town Administrator Christine Goodwin updated the Board about a State House Bill under consideration to repeal an exemption for solar system installations. Goodwin also asked whether Planning Board members would appear in a short video for the Town website explaining the proposed zoning amendments; Chair Carten and Mr. Severn volunteered to participate.
Other staff reports at the meeting included: Donna Sullivan saying the Historic District Commission will review materials for a renovation project at 2‑4 Central Square on Feb. 10 and that Mr. Goodrum will remove and store historic Peabody Hardware signs due to relocation cost; the Conservation Commission working with Resilience Planning and Design to revise Chapter V of the Master Plan with an anticipated finish in July; and staff continuing to evaluate Short Term Rentals policy direction.
Administrative business included a motion by Glen Huot to approve the Jan. 14 draft minutes, seconded by Chair Carten; the motion passed 4‑0‑0. The Board scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 11, 2026, and adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
