Planning Board Sets 3/25 Hearing on Zoning Change Proposals

The Planning Board will hold a hearing on Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m., to review and comment on proposed changes to the town’s zoning bylaws. Changes are subject to approval by voters at the Annual Town Meeting in June.

Zoom meeting information will be posted through a link on the Town’s website calendar at least 48 hours prior to the hearing.

Three citizen-led petitions pertain to cannabis business locations and commercial zoning in town:

·       One seeks to regulate the location and physical requirements for cannabis-related businesses in the town.

·       Another seeks to designate the town’s I-2 zone (downtown between the Cumberland Farms store and the railroad tracks, and east of downtown, near the School and River intersection) as permissible areas for cannabis manufacturing.

·       A third proposal, also a citizen petition, calls for rezoning portions of the MXD (mixed-use district) on South Main Street to R-3 residential. The change would disallow commercial activity in that neighborhood.

These citizen petition items were held over from last year’s Annual Town Meeting, for reconsideration this year. However, the time lapse means that the town must conduct new public hearings on the proposals.

A fourth proposal, from the Planning Board, would update the Downtown Business Mixed Use B-3 district (the Bridge Street area). That zoning designation is considered outdated and in need of revision to reflect how the area is now being used and developed.

The zoning change proposals and language are detailed fully in this document.

Any person wishing to be heard on these matters should attend the virtual hearing or submit comments in writing prior to 4 p.m. the day of the hearing. Questions can be emailed to crembold@townofgb.org, or call (413) 528-1619 ext. 2401