# Planning Board


**Body:** HCAM
**Date:** September 29, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Construction & Infrastructure, Physical Infrastructure


The HCAM Planning Board meeting on September 29, 2026, discussed charter-review recommendations and site-plan matters. The Board voted to recommend that the Charter Review Committee consider requiring a comprehensive master-plan update at least every 15 years and a public implementation review every five years, tied to the capital improvement plan. It also voted 6–2, with one abstention, to recommend retaining a reference to professional planning staff in the charter and providing for Town Manager appointments and annual goal-setting with Planning Board input. These were recommendations for the committee, not spending approvals; the Board noted that prior master plans were prepared internally in 2017 and with Community Opportunities Group in 2007.

For 87 Hayden Row Street, the applicant sought approval of a site-plan amendment for office use in the rear building, additional parking, and related changes. The Board did not decide whether to waive a requested construction-phase peer review; it continued the hearing to October 5 to clarify the municipal inspector’s review scope and the DPW’s sidewalk and crosswalk concerns. Staff said a construction review’s cost would depend on scope; typical major-site-plan peer reviews can cost about $20,000–$25,000, while this review could be less. No consultant engagement or procurement award was approved. The Board also approved an ANR plan and extended the stormwater permit decision deadline for another project; no related purchasing decision was identified.

**Source:** HCAM