Hubbardston planning board adopts priorities, puts aquifer protections at top of list

The Town of Hubbardston Planning Board voted unanimously to adopt a project priority list at its meeting, designating modernization of the aquifer favorability protection district as the board’s top priority and listing updates to the wireless communications bylaw and planning for a future master plan among the next items to address.

The board acted after a planner’s report on recent state law changes that the town will need to address. Alec, the town planner, told the board that the new legislation lowers thresholds for variances and changes how nonconforming uses and structures may be handled, saying that "towns must now accept residential use variance applications." He also described provisions that allow modification of nonconforming structures so long as the change does not increase the nonconformity.

Board members said the aquifer favorability protection district update is a gating item: without that revision the town cannot complete evaluations or move other projects (including commercial-district updates and the sandpit project). The chair summarized available resources and implementation needs, saying, "We have 200 was it 200 and we'll just say 200 ish thousand dollars in grant money lined up for us for support on these." Members noted the grants will help but emphasized the need for professional engineering and project management support.

In discussion, members agreed the board has limited bandwidth and should add only a few new active projects each year; the adopted priority list directs staff to focus on the aquifer favorability update first, then the wireless communication bylaw update, and to prepare a plan and chapter list for the next master plan update so future boards have a clear process. Alec said he will take a more active role managing grant administration and consultant coordination to keep the funded projects moving.

The motion to adopt the priority list was made by the chair and seconded by a committee member. The board approved the motion by roll-call vote: Francois Steiger — aye; Mister Holman — aye; Mister Carpenter — aye; Chair — aye.

Alec also reported the board has already completed or started several projects with grant support (DLTA and other grants), and that the sandpit project has reached a milestone but cannot proceed further until aquifer-favorability revisions are completed. He told the board the interim town administrator has asked him to compile a workbook tracking all awarded grants and that he will deliver a copy of the organized grant and contract documentation to the planning board.

The meeting ended with a brief administrative update and adjournment at 7:04 p.m.