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Stoddard planning board advances Master Plan drafting work; telecomm draft targeted for May
Summary
Board reviewed Master Plan section progress, assigned drafting responsibilities (transportation, utilities, facilities, conservation, construction), reported only three business-survey responses so far, and directed Chair to seek additional data from the Southwest Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC).
The Town of Stoddard Planning Board on April 7 reviewed progress on its Master Plan update, assigned section drafting responsibilities and identified next steps to gather data.
Board members reported the Economic Development section (IV) survey was mailed and posted online but has yielded only three responses from local business owners so far. Chair Bob Maden said he will contact the Southwest Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC) to request additional data, maps and any available housing and economic development information to inform the draft.
Transportation (section V) was discussed in a working draft review; members scheduled additional work sessions and agreed comments will be incorporated into the next version. Utilities and Public Service (section VI) was updated with penciled edits by Member Steve Jacobs; Jacobs and Jason Kovarik were assigned to verify the electric-grid content, and Kovarik will review and revise the Telecommunications Infrastructure section with a goal of presenting a telecommunications draft at the May meeting if time permits, otherwise in June.
Randy McHale said he will deliver a working draft of Facilities (section VII) at the next meeting. Jason Kovarik indicated he can provide a working draft for Conservation and Preservation (section IX). Steve Jacobs noted construction (section X) needs only minor edits and that necessary data came from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
During public discussion, Jacobs reported on attending a Southwest regional flood conference where FEMA did not attend; he plans to prepare FEMA-related questions for the June meeting. Maden and Kovarik summarized a SWRPC peer-to-peer planners roundtable focused on housing affordability and zoning barriers to child care, referencing pocket neighborhoods. Maden also mentioned an inquiry about building a primary dwelling while converting an existing unit to an ADU would require a variance, and he expects a subdivision application may be filed in the near future.
What’s next: Board members will continue drafting assigned Master Plan sections, follow up with SWRPC for data support, and aim to present the Telecommunications draft in May or June depending on timing around the town vote. The Town Vote is scheduled for May 12, 2026 and Town Meeting for May 19, 2026.
