Planning Board Jul 1, 2026

The Town of Amherst Planning Board held a remote meeting on July 1, 2026, primarily discussing several key planning and zoning matters. A significant portion of the meeting focused on a site plan review for an affordable housing project by the Amherst Community Land Trust at 174 Amity Street, including discussions on project design, accessibility, parking, stormwater management, and utility connections. The board also reviewed the status of a clean energy zoning bylaw proposal, deliberating on its length, regulatory impacts, and potential amendments before recommending it to the town council. Additionally, the board discussed potential zoning amendments to allow housing in the Professional and Research Park zoning district, with plans to engage property owners and other stakeholders. The meeting included updates on upcoming RFPs, notably for the East Amherst zoning study, with a bid opening scheduled for July 7 and an award decision anticipated by mid-July. No contract awards or vendor selections were finalized during this session, but the board planned further review and public hearings on these topics in upcoming meetings.