Planning staff outlines proposed fee increases and zoning‑map simplification; board asks for more analysis on R‑43 and village rules

Planning staff presented a proposed revision of planning fees and a zoning-district simplification plan at the July 13 meeting, asking the board to consider higher application fees for development reviews and a streamlined bylaw and rules-and-regulations package.

Staff said the proposed schedule would move to a per-square-foot approach for site-plan review (with a minimum) and raise many development-related fees so the town can better cover consultant and review costs and create a dedicated account for design-review work. "I really wanted to try to identify... items that you guys have Allen and Manger's review," staff said while discussing consultant costs and the need to recoup review expenses.

The board also reviewed an analysis of the village zoning districts and the unusual R‑43 (one-acre) district. Staff showed that reducing some lot-size minima (for example, in Wareham Village) would affect only a small number of lots, while changing building-height or parking standards would have broader community impact. Members were split on a proposed merger of Onset and Wareham village districts—some worried that merging would remove ability to tailor parking and design rules specifically for Onset’s waterfront character.

Next steps: staff will continue the R‑43 lot-by-lot analysis, prepare a public-hearing schedule for proposed fee changes, and draft rules-and-regulations updates that preserve distinct design guidelines for village areas while simplifying the use table and bylaw language for clarity.