What: a redlined draft of revised subdivision rules and regulations, last revised in 2005 with an amendment in 2023, prepared with Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission to use plainer language, fix formatting and match current state law and best practices.
Where it stands: introduced 2026-09-28 for discussion only; rules can only be adopted at a public hearing and do not go to town meeting.
Next: members send comments over about two weeks, the public works department reviews the construction standards, then a public hearing at the next meeting or the one after.
Details
Proposed new requirements include wetlands and stormwater compliance, a fiscal impact analysis for non-residential and larger residential subdivisions, a fee for each waiver request, an inspection fee deposit, a drainage layer under roadway pavement, hydrants at the end of every cul-de-sac and water main, and phase-by-phase inspection checkpoints.
Fee schedules would be kept on file at the planning department rather than in the rules, so they could change without a hearing.
Accessory dwelling units are governed by the zoning bylaw, not these rules.