Planning Board

The HCAM Planning Board’s October 6, 2026 meeting included a joint session with the Select Board on accepting private roads. Staff described 77 roads under consideration—51 private ways open to public traffic and 26 ancient ways—covering about 14 miles. Preliminary estimates cited roughly $433,000 in added annual maintenance if all were accepted, and approximately $1.25 million to $28 million to bring them to subdivision standards. Members favored more road-specific information, owner input, and a consistent review process, while noting budget constraints and the possibility of incorporating long-term planning into the town’s master plan. The boards discussed, but did not approve, funding for outside assistance or a road-acceptance program; no procurement awards or contracts were identified.

The Planning Board also continued public hearings for site-plan and subdivision matters, including 87 Hayden Row to October 19 and 0 Benson Road to November 2, and continued the scenic-road hearing for 147 Ash Street to October 19 after discussing Eversource tree work and possible screening and gate repairs. The board voted to recommend that Town Meeting disapprove a citizen petition requiring periodic zoning bylaw and map reviews, with members citing the proposed five-year schedule as too aggressive and suggesting the master-planning process instead. A separate employee-housing preference petition was discussed, including legal and implementation questions, but no recommendation was made in the transcript.