Clarification and addenda

In the February 27 article headlined “Planning Board splits 3-2 on endorsing zoning amendments,” links have been added to the finalized bylaw and accompanying multifamily and mixed-use zoning map.

A phrase in the February 28 article headlined “Draft of HCA design guidelines released” may have been unclear as to the changing nature of public feedback about the HCA, so the wording has been altered slightly. In general, feedback received by town officials has shifted over time and is currently split between a preference for concentrating affordable housing at the mall (especially once the state allowed housing in mixed-use subdistricts to count toward a town’s required total) vs. spreading it around town.

In the summer 2023 public forums and the State of the Town Meeting in October, participants favored the first option (C), but since then, a number of residents have argued in favor of the second direction, and many specific rezoning options have been floated along the way. “Feedback” obviously refers to residents who have spoken publicly on the issue, but the overall actual sentiment of voters won’t be known until March 23.

HCAWG’s work and the feedback it has received was also summarized by Select Board member Jennifer Glass at the start of that meeting. Her remarks were included in the notes area under slides 3-5 but were cut off in the meeting’s slide deck with notes posted to the HCAWG website, but they can be found here, and this link has been added to the February 28 article.