Planning & Development Subcommittee Meeting
The subcommittee continued consideration of Ordinance 2024-096 (expanding the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District) after extensive public opposition citing runoff and Lake Attitash impacts, and forwarded positive recommendations on multiple zoning measures and orders — 2024-085, 2024-086 (including proposed amendments), 2024-087, 2024-097 (easement at 130 Market St), and 2024-098 (MBTA Communities Act overlay) — to the full City Council.
The Planning & Development Subcommittee met to consider several zoning amendments, an easement order, and an ordinance expanding the Renewable Energy Development Overlay District (REDD). The meeting opened with extensive public comment focused on 2024-096 (REDD); multiple residents and the Lake Attitash Association expressed opposition to placing a large solar facility near Lake Attitash, raising concerns about runoff, water pollution, cyanobacteria, removal of trees, abandoned equipment, electromagnetic radiation, and the suitability of the site. After hearing public concerns and a brief statement from a sponsoring councilor, the subcommittee voted to continue 2024-096 to the next scheduled Planning & Development meeting in October.
The subcommittee received presentations from Planning Director Nipun Jain (and OCED Director Nick Cracknell on zoning implications) on several other items and took action to forward them to the full City Council with positive recommendations. The body voted to forward 2024-085 (WRPD and cluster residential provisions), 2024-086 (Historic Preservation special permit — later reconsidered and forwarded again with proposed amendments dated 9/18/2024), and 2024-087 (extension of the Retail Marijuana Overlay District with recommended O&A amendments). The committee also forwarded 2024-097 (acceptance of drainage and utilities easements at 130 Market St) and 2024-098 (creation of an MBTA Communities Act overlay) with positive recommendations. Substantive discussion included questions about accessory dwelling units in protected zones, adaptive reuse under historic preservation provisions, licensing limits for retail marijuana (clarified as handled in a separate bill), and requirements for EV charging in the MBTA overlay proposal.