West Newbury Planning Board sets slope zoning drafting deadline ahead of October Town Meeting

Planning Board · Meeting of July 7, 2026

West Newbury Planning Board sets slope zoning work on fast track for October 26 Town Meeting. Clerk Raymond A. Cook was directed to prepare two zoning bylaw draft documents — one protecting existing slopes, one governing post-construction slope conditions — in time for the board's next July meeting, after Vice Chair Rob Phillips argued for "front end loading it before we do get busy." Land and Building Services Administrator Jennifer Geary outlined the statutory timeline requiring a public hearing within 65 days of a Select Board referral and noted the board remains within the six-month window preceding the fall Town Meeting.

The board also heard that the town's Middle Street bridge project may finish as early as August, well ahead of its November target, and that a town staff member identified as Sam has volunteered to serve as West Newbury's local government representative under the state's new Clean Energy Siting Reform framework, with the Select Board set to act on that appointment July 9.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,329 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of July 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.