Ashland Planning Board moves mixed-use zoning, blasting and RV regulations toward public hearing

The Ashland Planning Board voted on Nov. 6 to send a set of zoning amendments and ordinances to public hearing and discussed planning and fiscal steps for a master plan update.

The board agreed to move a proposed mixed-use (multi-use) zoning district to public hearing; the proposal would formalize existing commercial and residential uses along the Holderness town line through Cottage Street and onto Main Street, allow home occupations and agritourism with special exception where appropriate, and permit limited non-drive-through restaurants as conditional uses. "It's to keep the sort of village and character of that whole area," a board member said during discussion.

Board members also voted to bring a blasting ordinance and commercial earth-excavation regulations to public hearing after legal review cleared the text. The board recorded that legal counsel had reviewed both documents and found no issues, and a motion was made and seconded to present the items at the next meeting.

On administrative matters, the board discussed asking the selectmen to establish a capital-improvement (CIP) committee to move forward on setting impact fees and noted a recommended $10,000 warrant article to begin a master-plan update. The board acknowledged that the selectmen would have input on warrant wording and that the warrant article would be framed generically to cover initial master-plan work.

The board scheduled a state-run meeting to review a $30,000 stormwater grant for Nov. 20 at 8:30 a.m. and confirmed its regular meeting schedule (Nov. 20) and associated follow-up dates. No ordinances were adopted at the Nov. 6 meeting; the votes were to move items to public hearing.