Planning board reviews steep‑slope bylaw draft, proposes 20% threshold and 15% buffer

Ray Cook presented a draft bylaw the board could use to define and protect what he called "slope resource areas," and to prevent creation of new contiguous steep earthworks during development.

Cook said existing steep slopes are "valuable resource areas" that preserve rural character and can present public‑safety and infrastructure risks; he proposed adding formal definitions, a 20% steep‑slope threshold (already referenced elsewhere in town bylaws), and a 15% buffer around steep areas to reduce ambiguity about where protections begin and end. "By being stricter in our imposition of limits to constructed slopes, we could be preventing some density from being created in West Newbury," he said, adding that the 20% number aligns with existing local practice.

The board discussed measurement methodology and the unit of analysis for defining slopes, with members noting that short, very steep micro‑segments can differ from an embankment's averaged slope and that stormwater regulations and subdivision standards overlap with the proposed protections. One member asked whether a measure that applies to roads or driveways would inappropriately capture highway slopes; Cook clarified the draft focuses on earthen slopes rather than highways or paved roads.

Cook recommended the next step be a focused review with Building Commissioner Sam Jocelyn and town staff and then a legal review before a public hearing. Board members generally supported pursuing both goals Cook outlined — protecting existing natural steep slopes and preventing construction of new contiguous steep slopes — while asking for clear definitions and measurement standards before a public release. No formal vote was taken; members agreed to refine the draft and route it to staff for technical review.

Next steps: Ray Cook to meet with Building Commissioner Sam Jocelyn and return a revised draft suitable for legal review and a public hearing.