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Planning board urges local outreach on November zoning referendum; considers coordinated messaging
Summary
Board members discussed November’s referendum (reported as ballot question 7) that would allow 5,000‑square‑foot buildable lots by right where municipal water and sewer exist; members voiced strong opposition and proposed DCTV, town Facebook, the town clerk and regional coordination to inform voters.
The board spent a substantial portion of the meeting discussing a statewide referendum (referred to in the meeting as ballot question number 7) that, as described in the transcript, would allow single-family lots of 5,000 square feet and duplexes by right in served areas. Planning staff said elements of the enabling bills and regulatory guidance are still in flux; members said the referendum’s combination with pipeline housing bills creates urgency to inform the public.
Members proposed outreach channels including DCTV segments, articles in the local paper, use of the town of Dartmouth Facebook and website (through the communications manager and town clerk), a town‑wide postcard or coordinated regional buys, and rapid social‑media messaging. One board member offered to draft a one‑slide image and a short, shareable post for quick distribution. Members asked staff to contact the communications manager and town clerk and to coordinate with regional planning groups (SERPed/CERPA) and neighboring towns.
Speakers emphasized infrastructure constraints: the board repeatedly raised sewer and water capacity questions, noting that the proposed statutory language applies only where public water and sewer are available. Some members flagged that the referendum campaign has significant funding from real-estate and developer interests and counseled a sustained public‑education push across multiple media. The board did not adopt an official town position at the meeting but agreed members would begin individual and coordinated outreach efforts and staff would explore official town channels for information distribution.
