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Lancaster earmarks $40,000 grant to update Master Plan amid concerns about pending state bills
Summary
Select Board members discussed updating Lancaster's Master Plan; Land Use Coordinator Robin Irving warned several 'ought to pass' bills at the state level could curtail local planning authority, and she said $40,000 from a per-unit housing grant has been set aside to hire a consultant for the update.
Lancaster officials signaled plans to update the town Master Plan and took steps to set aside funding for consultant support during the Select Board's May 4 work session. Land Use Coordinator Robin Irving said she has earmarked $40,000 received from a per‑unit housing grant to hire a consultant to lead the update.
Robin Irving warned that several bills in the state legislature described in the minutes as slated "ought to pass" could impose new restrictions on planning and zoning boards and said such changes—if enacted—would complicate the Master Plan update and local authority over land-use decisions. Leon Rideout recounted previous changes made during the last review and the board discussed whether they had missed any statutory deadlines or obligations related to the plan.
Board members did not record a formal vote on the Master Plan update during this work session. Staff and the board discussed next steps for hiring a consultant and aligning the update schedule with any pending state legislative developments.
