Planning Board Sep 30, 2026

The Town of Amherst Planning Board met on September 30, 2026 (the meeting date stated in the transcript; metadata lists October 2). The board approved its May 20 minutes, with four votes in favor and one abstention. Its main business was a presentation by the town’s consultant, Innes Land Strategies Group, on an East Amherst zoning study. The consultant described work underway on existing conditions, housing-market and fiscal analysis, community engagement, and possible zoning strategies; RKG is also conducting market analysis. No contract award, dollar amount, or procurement vote was discussed. Board members refined the proposed study-area boundaries and flagged parcels and issues—including wetlands, utility land, parcel consolidation, housing density, building heights, parking, and conservation restrictions—for further analysis. The consultant’s fee and scope were noted as considerations if the study area is expanded.

A public commenter raised town revenue and Hampshire College campus reuse, proposing a municipally owned grocery store and more generous payments in lieu of taxes from Amherst College and UMass; the board took no action on those ideas. The board also noted a prospective site-plan review and variance applications for 24 Dickinson, which had not yet been filed. No zoning change or other spending-related action was approved at this meeting.