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Planning board to start update of zoning bylaw on steep slopes
Summary
The West Newbury Planning Board agreed to begin drafting changes to its zoning bylaw addressing steep slopes, splitting the effort into protections for existing slopes and rules preventing retained steep slopes after construction; Ray volunteered to draft initial language for upcoming meetings.
The West Newbury Planning Board opened a preliminary conversation about updating its zoning bylaw to address steep slopes and timelines tied to the fall town meeting. Chair Rob Phillips said the agenda item was intended to "reset where we're at and what we expect over the coming months," while Jen (staff) outlined the referral and hearing schedule that links planning-board recommendations, select-board referral, and a public hearing before an October town meeting.
Ray proposed dividing the work into two separate documents — one focused on protecting existing slopes and another on preventing steep slopes from being left after construction — and volunteered to prepare the first drafts for review. As Ray put it, "So I I'd like to propose organizing stuff into, 2 documents. 1 is protecting existing slopes ... and then the 2nd 1 is not leaving steep slopes after construction." Board members discussed timing and agreed to try to complete at least the first proposal before the members become busier in late summer. Jen reminded the board that the planning board's recommendations will go to the select board, which would refer the proposal back within 14 days and trigger a public meeting within the statutory timeframe.
