Planning Board Meeting - April 27, 2026

It's 7:04 p.m. on April 27th, 2026 and this is the town of Dartmouth scheduled planning board meeting. The planning board voted in a public meeting to continue meeting virtually in accordance with the governor's 2025 extension of the virtual/hybrid open meeting option through June 30th, 2027.

This is currently a remote meeting and they are being recorded. At this point in time, I'd like to begin with a roll call.

Kevin Estes?

Yes.

Lori Miller?

Yes.

Hilario Rosa?

Yes.

Nick Saccopadis, yes.

So, this happens to be our first meeting following the election. Traditionally, it's the meeting where we elect board of officers as well as other appointments as indicated on our agenda. I'd like to share with the board members that Margaret Sweet will not be present tonight.

And it would be it would be my wish that we do not address board of officers and appointments without a full panel present. However, I'm I'm one of four tonight, one of five total, and I really don't know how the situation has been handled in the past on this particular meeting annually if there wasn't if it wasn't a full representation of the board. So, I'm happy to hear from each of you and make

a decision preferably as a group, but that that's my recommendation. If anybody would like to share their thoughts, please do so.

I don't know what the requirements are uh from a go-forward basis for this evening.

Um but I I agree with you that uh I would feel better about uh making appointments and decisions uh that that uh set roles and responsibilities for the next year with a a full board.

I agree.

Helio, do you have a comment on this matter?

You're muted, Helio.

I didn't get any of that.

Is my My signal is showing now?

We're getting a lot of feedback. Can you hear us clearly, Helio?

Give me just a second.

All right, I've turned my camera off. Um I can do the audio for now. So, do you mind repeating that cuz I didn't get most of that?

Sure. Sure, I was just sharing the fact that historically and traditionally, this is the meeting following the town election that the board of officers and other appointments are elected and made.

Margaret Sweet won't be joining us tonight. In her absence, it would be my wish that we defer to the following meeting. I didn't add this prior, but I'll add it now. Unless we learn from the clerk's office that there's pressure and or a deadline, we could call a special meeting. But, I feel better making these appointments, if you would, and elections if all members were present. And I just

asked each member for their opinion or their sentiment in regard to the subject, and perhaps we can decide as a group.

I concur to um to finalize as a as a full board.

So, kindly, can someone just make a motion that we defer the election of board of officers and other appointments until the May 11th meeting, unless we are made aware by the town clerk that they need this information prior to that meeting?

Just to check, I just did one thing.

I think I think we can we can resolve that issue.

Uh I I'll make a motion that that we defer choosing new positions and for the purpose of this meeting uh we maintain present positions.

While that motion stands, Dan was trying to ask a quick question. Dan, do you want to share that now?

Sure. Um just just as a as a point of reference, something that we might be able to address between now and that meeting.

Does anybody know if Kevin Melo is willing to stay on as the alternate member? Cuz that's something we could try to get get his his um however you want to say it, his approval to to stay as an alternate member. Is that something that the board would want to reach out to or is that something I'm happy to reach out to him. I'm away and and and therefore have not communicated with him in the past 8

days, but I'm happy to reach out to him as early as this evening or tomorrow and respond to you accordingly.

Okay.

Were Were you looking for an answer now?

Just just just no, just I just just to be aware if we're if we're delaying this till the May 11th meeting, um hopefully we can just address all these questions at that May 11th meeting. I don't want to get to May 11th and then Understood.

the alternate will be I'll be sure to speak with Kevin this evening.

a special permit that will be coming up um in the beginning of June, so we want to make sure we have an alternate member if needed.

Understood. I I will be certain to speak with Kevin if not later this evening by tomorrow.

Excellent. Thank you.

And I'll shoot you an email. So, there's a motion on the table made by Kevin Estes to defer the election of board of officers and other appointments until the May 11th meeting in hopes of having all members present.

Do I have a second?

I can Second.

Motion made by Kevin Estes, seconded by Lori Miller. Kevin Estees?

Yes.

Lori Miller?

Yes.

Hilio Rosa?

Yes.

Nick Sico Pitas, yes.

Number two is an ANR known as 57 Moren Avenue, Assessors Map 165 Lot 41. It's in our packet. Dan, would you like to describe the ANR?

Sure. Um this came through the portal under application PNR 26-5 for 57 Moren Avenue, also known as Assessors Map 165 Lot 41. This lot is located in the general residence zoning district.

Um the plan before you has the required frontage in the general residence zoning district. So this plan is eligible for endorsement by the board under section 1.101.a of the Dartmouth subdivision regulations that states "Every lot to be created as frontage on the distance required by the zoning bylaw on a public street or a street the town clerk clerk certifies is maintained and used as a public street."

Um so it's my recommendation that the board endorses the plan as submitted.

Any questions by the board?

If there are no questions and the fact that it's an ANR, we can entertain a motion.

So moved.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Nope. Go ahead.

Motion made by Lori Miller, seconded by Hilio Rosa to approve administrative item number two, which is approval not required regarding 57 Moren Avenue. Lori Miller?

Yes.

Hilio Rosa?

Yes.

Kevin Estees?

Yes.

Nick Sico Pitas, yes.

Give me just a moment.

Agenda item number three, ongoing discussion regarding Dartmouth future zoning.

Dan, any any updates from the perspective of Y or anything from the state?

No, I um for the board members, if you recall, um the Serped group was going to send the housing production plan um hopefully final draft to the EOHLC, the Executive Office of living um Was it just remind the blank.

Habitable living communities. Is that right? I'm sorry. Um and we were just waiting for their pre-approval for that and then we can vote to adopt that and move on to the next steps.

Anybody have anything to share regarding zoning at this point?

I think collectively what's our message um I I want to make sure that this item doesn't come and go perhaps as a moot point tonight since we're here in respect to the town and those that maybe follow what we do.

What's the reality of Dartmouth future zoning right now? It's the development and implementation of the Y, correct? Dan, that that's a big deal, hot topic?

Um it's at that point it's just some of the items we we've talked about. What's the next process? As town council mentioned at the last meeting, there's a lot of bills before the state for the fall, so it kind of puts a moving target on what our goals and and best options are to achieve those goals.

Um but we've looked at the Y, we've looked at overlays, we've looked at mixed use. So, as far as I'm concerned, they're still on the table and um will be dictated partially by what happens at State House in the next 6 months or so.

So, I'm not sure how much we want to expand on this at this point in time, but is there how does the board feel about where we're at as it relates to the state provided opportunity that might come down the pipeline in comparison to the overlays we discussed, the increased density, the mixed use, the the various opportunities we discussed that we kind of backed off a little bit because of the housing production plan

and the development of the Y. How do we feel as a board? Are we backing off a little bit on zoning discussion as this is in its development? Or where are we?

I'm just curious where each other's minds are at as it relates to that.

Mr. Chair, if I may again.

Go ahead, Eliot.

So, I guess from from my two cents, it's I feel it's a little bit risky to just stand idle because these things on the state level can take who knows how long.

And I don't know that we serve Dartmouth best by just taking a wait-and-see approach.

I don't know that we can fully make recommendations at, you know, warp speed, but I think it would serve Dartmouth if we continue our dialogue about how to move it forward, you know, in parallel with whatever the state might be coming down the road.

And as as certain timelines come down from the state, we should position ourselves best to be ready to act quickest.

And not necessarily wait to start from scratch.

Helio, I I I appreciate that and I'm 100% with you. My and the and I have a reason for it and I was really big and I was vocal on increased density.

And people need to understand, you know, no more building, do not build, do not not not is not necessarily going to solve the housing crisis.

And it's not something you're capable of doing based on the rights of land owners, opportunities at the state level, and things that can happen regardless of the presence of our board or not. But the increased density compared to the 40Y, then and if you can't if you can't, that's fine, but in a Y, a majority or percentage of them is at least 50% are going to be required to be three bedrooms correct?

I don't have the numbers of I I think that's that's stuck with me for a reason. I think in a 40Y, the state's going to ask that 50% of the housing is going to be three bedroom and perhaps less than 20, maybe 10% of it's going to be designated affordable.

Three bedrooms are not really what's going to solve the housing crisis and allow people the opportunity to stay in Dartmouth or come to Dartmouth. If you're a 24-year-old newlywed couple with entry-level employment opportunities or an aging 86-year-old couple, three bedroom, the cost of a three bedroom, the operating expenses of three bedroom and so on are likely not going to be in your best interest if you have

a one or a two bedroom option. So, my message for whatever time I'm here at the board and for the direction that Dartmouth takes is to help solve the solve the the to help solve the housing crisis.

And understand the economies of scale, not only to put them up, but to occupy them and who's going to be able to occupy them socioeconomically.

Where are the one and two bedroom options going to come from? And my argument and my point is, in the absence of an increased density opportunity, you, me, and any developer is likely going to struggle to put one and two bedroom units outside of an increased density um structure, if you would. So, to Helio's point, I'm hoping whatever direction the board takes this year, um as we reorganize, it

I think the increased density concept, if it fits into standards that are being developed at the state level, and are going to become an opportunity for the town, great. If it does not, and the town does not put an effort into it, I think we're missing a major opportunity to contribute to the housing crisis considering the finances that surround housing. So, um I'm just hoping in the in the next couple of meetings,

we're all present and perhaps we outline what we want to do this year. And And my point tonight is, I don't want to lose sight of the phrase increased density because I think it needs to happen in certain places, and I think it can and should happen in places where the footprint does not have to change at all. And And we all know we we know where those are, along Route 6 and Fogg's Corner and

Crossroads. There's plenty of opportunity without breaking more ground, simply adding to structures and creating units. So, um that's my sentiment as far as future zoning goes. Anybody else?

Mr. Chairman, if I can just follow up on your question, you are correct. 50% in uh in a Y district must contain three or more bedrooms. So, you were correct.

So, that's, you know, the the why is um it's just logistically, I don't see how it's going to have the impact on the housing needs that we want without expanding into rolling pastures and green hillsides in comparison to going above the structures that I don't have to mention now. We all know where they are. And um and add one and two bedroom units. So, with that, I'll I'll just finish my future zoning comment.

With that said, we know multiple developers in town have expressed prior requests, have expressed interest in coming before us and being part of a meeting as it relates to this subject. And I think based on everything that we've discussed and a lot of Dan's work uh between the town and the state and the information that's gone back and forth as it relates to the residents and those

who chose us to be in this position, I think we're obligated to bring those people in because it's their capacity, their industry, and what we hear from them that will have a lot of weight in comparison to perhaps what our wish list is as a board or what we think.

Being being transparent, I don't have the credentials to make the statement in a cer- certified way as far as what I said regarding increased density and units and cost, but these developers do. And I think it'll be a very informative meeting not only for us, but for any residents that ask us, you know, what are you guys doing? How do you know? Where did you get your information?

It's a very objective way, I think, of taking what is right now not necessarily subjective cuz we're all working on it, but it it's a way of verifying what we're trying to do. So, one of them was going to be back in early spring.

Um another one uh two another two are local, so Dan, if you don't mind, when I get back in town this week, I'll follow up with you. We can reach out to them and see how soon we can table get them on the agenda and I have notified some residents who are curious about that that it would also happen early late spring early summer. So I'm hoping between May or the first meeting

in June we can include this discussion if that's okay with the rest of the board.

Nick I happen to agree with you and I it is something very important to keep on our agenda every every week. Um but I think we still have a problem and and I want to see this go forward but how do we get affordable rent?

Um our first year teachers can't afford to rent in the town of Dartmouth because the rents are so high. I mean how do we how do we accomplish that? I just I don't know.

Well I listen I'm not a builder but I've bought my share of building materials and have done a fair share of projects. Um you know if it's if the construction is wood and the floors are high end laminate floors or wood floors compared to VCT tile or or 199 there are ways and developers know they know if if their proposed market is X per bedroom they know what they got to do per I say

per door per unit in terms of how they're going to build it to achieve that. There I'm rambling but what I'm really trying to say is the appropriate housing needs to be developed based on the I'll use the word relative cuz it's it's always forever changing but the relative socio demographics and socioeconomics need to be included in sorry did I lose you guys?

No? here.

Oh they need they need to be included in the algorithm as far as what the developer's going to put up. With all due respect, developer puts up for this conversation, it means nothing, but I'm going to use it. Class A space where really the market needs to be Class C plus or B minus in terms of rent, then there's a problem.

Maybe they'll understand who we as the board and the residents are from the perspective of the socio-demographic constraints, socioeconomic constraints.

That's a possibility, and share with us what what we could expect if we were trying to accommodate the market from the perspective of rent, in other words, letting the proposed rents dictate what's going to be built, or vice versa.

Maybe we'll sit back and listen and learn why from their perspective what we're trying to share with them and what our concerns are are just not possible.

And if that's the outcome, that's okay, too, but it's our job to get to that conclusion.

Or it's our job to at least exercise the exercise.

No?

Yes.

I I think I agree.

I I I feel like there's a I know my voice is loud and I'm not afraid to speak, but um listening is listening is a hell of a lesson, and I think if we give these people a chance to talk to us, we're likely to learn quite a bit.

And that's probably going to have an impact on how we feel about what can or can't happen. Right now, it's a wish list from our perspective.

And the increased density is a wish list from the day I told Kevin I was willing to run for planning board because I feel like developing that part of town without breaking any further ground and increasing the number of one and two bedroom units in that commercial light way with metal framing and so on, controlling construction costs, that we could achieve some of the deficits

that we have from a housing perspective.

We may learn otherwise when Mr. A or Mr.

B or Mrs. C talks to us, but I'm happy to learn and I'm happy to listen to that.

So, I would ask that we we obviously we can't chat as a group, but um I've mentioned a few names here before and I think if anybody has the ability to talk to a developer, a builder, or someone that can contribute as a board member, we should share with Dan perhaps in an email or a phone call this week who they are rather than reaching out to the same person multiple times, and then we'll we'll um

we'll respectfully reach out to each of those contacts once and ask them if they want to become part of a panel that we want to hear from. And perhaps we should put together a punch list of why we want to hear from them so that they're prepared as well as what the topic's going to be.

And if anybody wants to add to that, please do so because this this is single-handed how I'm feeling about it.

No, I like the idea.

But if I could add something?

Yeah, please.

Um so, the first thing I I agree we need to get stakeholders in here.

Um as I said since we started these discussions, it doesn't do us any good to spend years doing regulations if nobody's has the taste to to build anything that we're approving. So, I think that's a very important factor.

Um some factors I think the board should consider as we're looking at potential regulations that are going to be roadblocks.

Aquifer. A lot of the areas you're looking at is aquifer. How do we reconcile protection of the aquifer versus our housing requirements? So, I think that's going to be very important in the discussions.

Sewer capacity.

Talking about Route 6, you've seen a on a couple of these projects that are residential that came from Route 6, they need sewer studies. There's substantial cost involved in that.

Um the sewer lines, the lift stations weren't meant to handle a residential load as opposed to the commercial loads as done. So, that's something we really need to consider going forward in that one. And one of the other big issues from a let's call it marketing standpoint from the planning board is the 40B's.

We know there's a lot of units coming online. There's a lot of um opinion out there among the town residents that we're overburdening the town with units. So, these are the things I think we need to uh be cognizant of and and take into consideration as we're looking um for future housing regulations. So, just those things to keep in mind. But, I agree step one, try to get some stakeholders in here.

Offer up what the board is looking at um for potential housing options and seeing what the taste is out there for those different housing options.

So, two things um I want to ask this question and you you can you can look at me if you want or you can look the other way. I want to ask it though.

As far as the sewer capacity goes, cuz this is a subject that comes up amongst myself and my circle when we're talking about development or not. And I'm sure we're not the only ones thinking about it. Your comment about the sewer capacity was that forgive me, but you mentioned residential in nature.

Are you are you imply not implying, is it the fact that what's on Route 6 or Fiske Corner Road, specifically maybe the Crossroads intersection in Route 6?

Is that sewer designed for residential and carrying the burden of commercial?

It is my understanding it is not, which is why the few residential potential projects that are coming on Route 6 are requiring substantial sewer and water analysis done by the town's consultant on that for each project as proposed.

From a standpoint of pressure for water, from a standpoint of sewer capacity in the lines, from the standpoint of volume in the lift stations along those lines to get to the treatment facility. Um, those are the things that are being evaluated for each one, and they come with substantial costs involved with that. So, it's just something to that we want to keep in mind and want to

be aware of as we're looking, you know, to try to come up with regulations in the best interest of the town.

So, I appreciate that. That's helpful.

And this is a this is a question that I clearly have and so do some others.

Does the town not know perhaps, this is that on a very simple level, does the town not know based on what it has below ground what its capacity is?

I'm trying to understand and I'm trying to answer the question of others that, you know, these very costly, if you would, um, you know, analyses and so on of what's there and what it can handle or not. Does the town have an idea of what it can handle?

I'm I'm trying That'd be a question. That'd be a question for the DPW.

Yeah, I'm trying to I mean, it's almost like a mathematical question, you know, what went in I have a recommendation.

What's that?

I have a recommendation.

Why don't we get the department head of DPW and water and sewer at a meeting and say to them, "Before we continue working on any type of zoning in these areas, can you give us the capacity? Can you give us what we need to know so that we can go forward with zoning? Because there is no sense in us doing zoning changes if DPW comes up and says you can't do it.

So, maybe we should I mean there's no reason why they wouldn't come to a meeting. They should come to a meeting and explain to us, yes you can do this, no you cannot do this. This is the capacity, this is not the capacity. This is what we're working on. We're working to get more water from Fall River or New Bedford or whoever. And we're we're working on upgrading the sewer system.

Um because in in reality, we can't do anything there if DPW if we do go we go through all of this and we actually get some fantastic zoning in place, town meeting passes it the AG passes it, everything is great.

And DPW steps in and says, no you can't do it.

So, why don't we get them here first?

Uh I I absolutely like the idea and then from a business perspective, my question is, if we can't do it, but we're going to increase the tax Let's just be hypothetical here that let's just call it the opportunity. If the opportunity we're describing, the increased density opportunity is well over 3,000 units over the next 15 years. Make-believe. Whatever the number is, there's a benefit, a fiscal benefit

to the town as the tax base is increases. So, uh I've I've coached kids for a long time and mentored and the only word I don't like is can't. Um you know, the can't versus when do the X and Y axes meet and when will they based on the fiscal benefit of having more units? Isn't that another question?

I think that's a very important question.

So, you know, so perhaps these are two different meetings and I I like both of them. Um the develop- the developers' perspectives and then from an infrastructure perspective, we give them our time, they give us their time specific to that. And perhaps we can objectify to some degree what their concerns are and learn from that and be able to pass them along to residents and understand better what our planning is

um as it relates to that. So, I I I I applaud you and I thank you and I say yes to that. The other thing, Dan, I'm going to go back I'll go back to the to the B 40B, which um for lack of a better word, a lot of people call it something different. It What I what I really really want to happen as 40Bs are being proposed and discussed in town,

I'm not tired, I'm not aggravated of the fact, but I'm bothered by the fact that the sentiment of the person who's unaware is that the planning board has the ability to do something or anything with anything about a 40B when we can do nothing.

And it's up to the ZBA to condition it as best they can and it's driven by the state. So, I just think it's vital as we're in the community, amongst our peers, other parents, what regardless of what it is, unless I'm wrong and and and I'm happy to hear back now that we, the planning board, in a 40B, do not interact.

We do not effectively make a change yes or no to a 40B. True or false, Dan?

The ones that are in the permitting process now, no, we don't.

Things that the planning board can do to help with our housing production, obviously establishing the housing production plan, that gives us some safe harbors after if these 40Bs get approved, we have a housing production plan that allows the town to have some safe harbors for future 40B development.

So, there are things we can do. Some of the other things we talked about, if we have a high volume let's say 55 plus, putting a affordable component into that 10% um to maintain those things. So, the 40B's that are on the books now, no, those are not um up to the planning board.

Future development, those are the things we can we can work to to eliminate the the need for future 40B's.

Uh And and Dan Understood.

Go ahead, Kevin.

And and Dan, just a uh kind of a follow-up slash clarification question.

The reason that we're not having a say in these existing projects is because we haven't met the the threshold of having the ability to have any jurisdiction over the 40B process.

Correct.

Once these projects Go ahead.

Once these projects complete, we will have we we anticipate that we will have met the 10%.

And we If all of the projects that are on on the proposed docket with the ZBA, um if they all get approved that should get us above the 10% number.

Okay. I just wanted I just wanted to kind of clarify when when you said we didn't have a say in it, I wanted to make sure that it to to further Nick's perspective that that if you have less than 10% affordable housing in in your your town then you're you're pretty well handcuffed. Uh Right. We can we can comment, we can request things, but ultimately, it's an equation of is the need of the town

greater than the needs of housing requirements in the state.

And right now, what the state leans towards, there's a greater need for housing in the state.

Great. Thank you for the clarification.

I appreciate that, Kevin. And in my closing comment to the 40B subject, to the public and to the residents of the town, it's building and development that's going to prevent the 40B.

They they need to understand that we need some of the development to occur so that we can build our defense mechanism, otherwise, we have no defense. And then that's what Kevin just shared with you all. So, um and I think the I honestly think I think the message has gotten out quite a bit over the past couple of years. I think the uh the the potential for the 40B's that has

occurred since I've been on the board has raised people's awareness that much more, and I think we've done a good good job of discussing it. But my message to everybody is no more building is not the option if you want to gain some control of the town over the state.

No more building will preserve the ability of the state to dictate what happens, when it happens, where it happens, and your ZBA will condition it to some degree, and then you will look at those units forever. So, all right, we don't need to go on with that, but I I appreciate everybody chiming in on that.

If we're good with future zoning for now, the conclusion is we will bring the developers to a meeting, we will bring um DPW and infrastructure personnel to a different meeting.

Correct? Are we good with that?

Yes.

Yep.

Great.

So, I I would like to be a full board for this, but let's just jump into number six in terms of 2026-2027 priority list.

Number four.

I'm sorry. Number four. 2026-2027 priority list.

Um Dan, do you want to summarize anything with that before we discuss it as a board or no?

There are a couple things from um a town standpoint that I believe we need to address. One we've talked about um a few times here at the planning board meetings. Um and with the advice of town council, we need to start working on a battery energy storage system bylaw. Um so, that needs to be a priority. Um also from I mean, there's many things in the zoning regs that need to be changed, subdivision

regs updated, but um this was deemed a priority to get this hopefully for fall town meeting to get the battery energy storage. So, I think that needs to be a priority.

Um we've also talked about um some other things in zoning. Um staff's been working on getting the updated use table that had some discrepancies in it. So, um updated use table for town meeting for the fall.

I think should be a priority. Um those are the top two. Subdivision regs need to be updated. Um as everybody on the board can see, we're not seeing a lot of residential subdivisions.

Residential components are more in the apartments, the special permits. Um those aspects, but those will definitely need to be looked at and and updated as well. So, from a a planning department standpoint, those are the priorities that I think the the board should be looking at outside of um the housing considerations.

Yeah, can I make a comment?

Please.

Um I think we can keep My personal opinion is that we can keep 1 through 6 the way it is.

And we can work on 7, 8, and 9, which are the three that at um Dan just gave us because I think they can be working on what they feel needs to be done, and we can be working on We can They can both be worked on at the same time. I mean, we're not going to have um There's going to be time when you can't work on what we want, so he can work on

what he wants.

And vice versa. So, that I think both can be worked on at the same time.

Understood. Can you Can you just repeat the the two items that you're talking about? Sorry.

So, a potential battery energy storage system um bylaw.

Updating the use table in the current bylaws.

Updating the subdivision rules and regulations.

Great.

And I And I don't I don't disagree with that at all. So, um anybody else want to share anything further to put on that list?

Um So, Dan, uh what How How technical does Does the battery storage bylaw have to be?

Do Do we have the the the requisite knowledge about within the town and resources to get it uh in order to to make a uh a a well-thought- out uh and brand new uh bylaw regarding a just a a whole new situation?

Well, the workshops that we're going to be having um in the coming month, we will have representatives there from the fire departments that are actively involved from a fire standpoint for for these type of units. We will have members of the building and zoning department who are actively involved in these regulations.

Uh we will obviously have town council reviewing this once we we get that together. We also have a model bylaw that was put out by the state. So we'll have that for reference.

So we definitely have a lot of references to begin the process and then reach out beyond that for whatever have anything on this topic?

I don't know if they've done anything for other townships.

That might be another good resource.

Dan, can you can you share this this backup that you're describing battery and so on are are you talking about for I want the public to hear this. Are you talking about for the town?

Yes.

So there's a big there's a big push for battery energy storage systems from a commercial standpoint attached to solar farms. People are using um them for for different reasons. Um so we need to be proactive in how we want to sit them in town.

Like I said, looking at where they would be allowed and not allowed similar to um the solar bylaw.

Um looking to say like for that bylaw, they're not allowed in residential districts. So that'd be something we'd want to take a look at for the battery energy storage.

Um from the fire chief's standpoint, they have a big concern about fire suppression um for these type of units. The board of health wanted to be involved for for their aspects. So There's a lot of there's a lot of different departments that all have have interest in it to get it started.

Are there bylaws we had one while I've been on the board if I'm not mistaken.

Are there bylaws or bylaws specific to like high voltage transformers that were caged in and all that along utility lines or adjacent to residential space? Didn't we have one?

Was that was that a bylaw in itself or no?

Thought we had one on um Ross Road by the library.

No, it was a few years back. I'll look it up. I'm just curious. I just remember discussing that and I I was I was educated that moment that it was very unique and it had its own kind of governance, but I'll look it up.

I have a question that's it's completely separate.

Would you happen to know if there are regs bylaws that require pharmacies that are built in town to have a generator?

I did not know that.

So, I'm just going to float this out there because during one of the storms when power was lost a major pharmacy just over the town city line closed due to the lack of power.

And considering the amount of volume of prescriptions that that pharmacy dispenses to the communities it was kind of something that bothered me and I said maybe we should bring it up and make sure if it's not in the regs that any development regarding pharmacy or dispensing medications um we can expand on this, but perhaps it should be a reg that auxiliary power is mandatory.

Um if you think of a pharmacy that's not far from us that's large and 24/7 is dispensing medications to all of a sudden close due to the lack of power. It was It was bizarre to me how many people were without their medicine. And it made me want to ask this question. So, All right, anything else?

Priority-wise? If not, the number five is discussion of the town meeting planning board handout.

Lori, I believe you brought this up at the previous town meeting and am I correct that this is the handout that you described passing out?

Yes, this was what we passed out at the last town meeting. Not the one you had in your packet, obviously, but um there are boards in this town who who will say, "Well, what are the planning board doing? I don't see them doing anything." Well, we're doing a lot, they just don't see it because they don't attend the meetings, they don't know what our staff is doing. So, that was why we handed out the the um

pamphlet at the last town meeting.

And it was very well received. I received a lot of comments on it. "Gee, that was really great. We know what you're doing. It was nice to know, you know, where you're heading or where you think you're heading." So, I think this is something that we should be doing at every annual town meeting, you know, the June meeting.

And you have in your packet what the staff put together um to hand out at this town meeting, but I do have one to add to it because we did do more work than what's on here.

Um the one I would like to add to it is that we did um review and rewrite the special permitting um rules and regs.

Um and I think it's it it shows that we're we're trying to inform the public what we're doing. It It shows them what we're trying to work on.

Um I don't know if anybody wants to add anything to this. Do you want to change it? Um this is what staff came came up with.

Mr. Chair, can I make a recommendation?

Please do so. So, I This is great um and this is kind of a high-level almost bulleted um success story.

Would there be any interest to throw some additional data in there by, you know, conveying here's X number of ANRs, X number of subdivisions, X number of this or that, just really kind of condensed box version of the things that the planning board saw and approved to benefit the town.

That that's in the the annual report.

Right, but as a handout, I'm not sure who goes through a full annual report and reads it, but kind of as a you know, a one-pager, if anybody would have any interest in seeing those um that data.

Not a requirement, just throwing it out there for the board's consideration.

I I want to jump in on that. Here you are.

I think it's a great idea. Um I'm not sure how easy it is for Ross or Dan if it's a push of a button or a little bit of research to review what we've done, but it it would be a nice table um if you would, which would bunch of one-liners summarizing what we've done.

It would go a long way, I think.

Beautiful.

Yeah.

I think personally I think personally it will confuse town meeting because we're going to have a bylaw going before them. Okay, let's say if we do come up with this 40Y or 40B or whatever, and they're going to say, "Well, look, you did 10 ANRs. We don't need any more."

So, I think my personal opinion is the simpler and the easier it is, um it doesn't confuse. Uh and I'm not trying to say town meeting members because they don't read their packets, a lot of them. You see them sitting at town meeting and you see them opening their packets for the first time.

So, they don't have the ability in some instances to call call a planning board and say, "Well, why do you need this new zoning article? You've already done 50 A&Is this this year.

I I don't know Helio, do you understand what I'm saying?

Yeah, I can I can understand where you're where you're coming from in that point. Um Yes, I I I understand.

Mr. Chairman, if I could add one thing, too.

Yeah, and then I want to share something regarding this. Go ahead.

Um one thing um Lori and I just before this meeting were in front of the select board uh talking about the Article 24 bylaw.

Um and one thing that was brought up was to try to include something in the packet um with a little more detail on the comings and goings of different parts of it between the proposed regulations in the Article 24.

Um so that's one thing that we need to discuss about putting in the packet.

Um so that would be something that's going to take a little bit of time for staff to include with that packet. So that's something um I'll let the board give their opinions on it, but um based on the feedback from the select board, I think that's something that would probably be beneficial to have done and include in the packet, which needs to be finalized by that May 11th meeting. So

there's there's a little bit of work involved with that to get that ready in time.

Thank you, Dan. I I just want to go back really quick to what Helio initially proposed, and I'm I'm just looking at a few things while I'm saying this, but it maybe not for tonight, but it sure would be nice to keep track and have the ability to produce a table that had the subjects and the quantity.

52 ALRs, 17 sureties, 11 special permits. What whatever the numbers are.

I almost feel like from the perspective of business, it would be good to know um and be able to answer that question.

This this planning board update looks great to me. I get it. It's a good quick read.

But for someone who doesn't read or take a moment to understand what they're reading, I see three items here, one, two, and three. I get it, it's just an update.

But n- nonetheless, if we don't want to, we don't want to.

I'm just making a very broad-based suggestion that maybe something we can talk to Dan and Ross about is coming up with a table based on the things that we do see that are on our agendas categorically and reoccurringly. And for each year, they just tally up. And we have a running tally of what we've seen and what we've done. It's just not a bad way to answer things in a very quantified manner.

But um it doesn't have to be on this update. So, Hillyer, thank you for that.

Anybody else?

Sorry, I was on mute. It may be the right way to approach it is to, you know, can we publicize an end of the year summary, an end of the calendar year summary, and you know, post it to the website?

I like it. I I just Yeah.

It it makes people think twice before they ask, "What have you done?" when they look at that. Or they won't ask a second time. Once they ask the first time and we give them that kind of an answer, they'll say, "Thank you," actually. So, um I mean, they can get a lot of that information at the at our annual report.

Now, I mean But is it summarized? Is is it summarized that way, though?

I can take a look at it. Yeah.

And you can go in and see how many subdivisions were approved or how many houses were approved, how many house lots were approved. That's how it's always been in the past. I have to take a look at the new one. But in the past, if we if we approved 30 house lots, it was it was there, 30 house lots approved, 30 business lots approved. Um it was it's it's um spread

out and categorized in the in the town report.

And it's in there by board specifically, in other words, you can see the planning board's activity specifically?

Yes.

Yes.

Okay. All right.

I'll definitely take a look at that.

So for for for now, um this is um as far as the handout goes, Lori, we're going to revisit it again one more time or or in terms of working on it, what are your thoughts?

We have to be finalized by May 11th, so it has to be done ready ready for me to to give to the town clerk first thing in the morning on the 12th.

Okay, so we'll we'll revisit it in terms of approve it and make any comments on the 11th, but ideally between now and then if you have something to say, say it or contribute.

Yes.

Okay.

I would highly wish that option.

Yeah, I just If you have anything you would like to add, send it to to Ross and I.

Uh we can compile it into a into a document, and then on the 11th we can whittle it down or pick and choose at that point. But I need to know by the 11th.

Understood. Okay.

And again, I think it's important to to get something written up for the bylaw too to include in the packet.

The bylaw bylaw amendment.

Okay, great.

Number six, minutes of March 9th, 2026 and March 23rd, 2026.

Um so, Mr. Chairman, the meeting minutes for March 9th, um only Lorrie Ann Miller, Margaret Sweet, and Helio Rosso were at that meeting.

So, we only have two people to vote on that. So, I believe we're going to have to table that one until we have all three to be able to vote on that one.

Okay. So, March 9th, 2026 minutes will be tabled to the May 11th meeting.

And the March 23rd, 2026 minutes, we have a motion?

Uh yes, all five members were there for that one. So, we if if the board is okay with those minutes, you can vote to um approve those meeting meeting minutes.

I move to table the March 9th uh minutes to the next meeting and to approve the March 23rd uh minute meetings.

Motion made by Lorrie Miller. Sec- Do you want to Sorry. Do you want to do it uh separately? I think we should do Do it separately? Okay.

Yeah.

I move So, let's have I move to um table the March 9th minutes until the next uh meeting.

I'll second.

Motion made by Lorrie Miller, seconded by Helio Rosso, to table the March 9th, 2026 minutes until the May 11th, 2026 meeting. Lorrie Miller?

Yes.

Helio Rosso?

Yes.

Kevin Estes?

Yes.

Nick Cycle Pace? Yes.

Which brings us to the minutes of March 23rd 2026.

If I could have a motion.

Okay, fine. Second.

No, no. You're you're making a motion.

Oh, okay. I move I move that we approve the minutes of March 23rd, 2026.

I need a second.

So, motion made by Lori Miller to approve the March 23rd, 2026 minutes, seconded by Kevin Estes. Lori Miller?

Yes.

Kevin Estes?

Yes.

Kilia Rosa?

Yes.

Nick Cyclepedia, yes. Number seven, correspondence Town of Freetown, what do you got there?

Um this is just our typical correspondence we received from a budding town, so I would just recommend that motion to acknowledge and file.

Motion to acknowledge and file.

Got a second?

I'll second it.

Motion made by Kevin Estes to acknowledge and file the correspondence from the Town of Freetown, seconded by Lori Miller. Kevin Estes?

Yes.

Lori Miller?

Yes.

Kilia Rosa?

Yes.

Nick Cyclepedia, yes.

Brings us to number eight, for your information, old business, new business.

Ben, let me run Oh, sorry.

Are we including the uh the Zoning Board of Appeals in in the uh acknowledge and file?

Uh no, that's that's that's just that's just an update for you under the um Zoning Board of Appeals decisions.

That's just for your information.

Okay. Well, I want to get some some thoughts or opinion on this particular decision.

Um is anybody uh if you look into this, the the lot in question was already overburdened from in terms of coverage.

Um it it as I read it, uh and they uh approved expanding the the coverage of uh of this lot.

Uh while this lot sits in zone two of the aquifer overlay protection district.

And I'd like to ask one question. First, am I describing this correctly?

We we under- I understand what you're saying, but I think for the sake of the public in the meeting, maybe identify the lot.

Uh the only decision here from the town of Dartmouth, it's uh 43 Lucy Little Road.

Item number five kind of wraps it up, it seems to me. If I'm reading If I'm reading it right, I just want to make sure I'm reading it right.

This is the one with the swimming pool, right?

Yeah.

Okay. So, they're increasing the square footage from 20% to 26%, correct?

Yes. So, Mr. Mr. Chairman, it's an ex- it's an expansion of a pre-existing non-conformity. That's why it's a special permit as opposed to a variance.

But, it's a special permit or a variance?

Special permit.

Okay.

It's an expansion of a non-conformity.

Okay.

Pre-existing non-conformity.

I'm just I'm trying to understand why why we would take something that is non-conforming, make it more non-conforming in such an area that is vital to the town, vital enough to be designated as a uh uh a level two aquifer overlay protection district.

And I guess that that's it's not a question really to be answered here at the board, but I certainly wanted to make sure I interpreted the situation correctly and from if I'm hearing from you Dan, I I I got a good a pretty good read on on what what actually transpired here.

Yes, we talked about this at the March 23rd planning board meeting.

I don't off the top of my head know what was discussed. I just haven't noted that it was brought to the attention of the board on March 23rd.

Yeah, it's I'm I'm I'm just trying to I I guess the the question really needs to be uh brought to the zoning board of appeals rather than uh rather than this venue, but I I'm I'm just I'm I'm scratching my head figuring to trying to figure out why uh why this was passed.

I I I'm with you. I I'm happy to reach out to Michael Medeiros if you would like and get his perspective and report back. Um I'm a little confused. Is is it standard that the alteration of anything that's non-conformant is by way of special permit and not and and not applying to the ZBA?

Expansion of a non-conformity is I mean ex- expansion of a pre-existing non-conformity is a special permit.

Okay.

I'm uh Kevin, I'm happy to reach out to Michael and get his perspective if you would like. Uh not if you would like, I mean it's uh it's a question brought before us tonight. I think we need to answer.

I I I'd I'd like to hear about it, yeah.

Sure. Sure.

Uh so if if this was covered in in the motion that we've already made, then uh I've I've got nothing further.

Thank you, Kevin.

Um Dan, did you get into number eight yet or no?

Nope, you were just starting that one.

Yeah.

So uh for your uh for your information, old business, new business, um as I said, Dan, if you don't mind, run us through what you can.

Yeah, so um there was nothing for new applications to the zoning board. The decision was the one we just discussed.

Um so we spoke on that one.

Um the next item would be the subcommittee reports. So that's Yep. Does anybody have any subcommittee reports to share?

Neither do I.

Planner's report and the workshop update?

Yeah, so we have our first workshop um scheduled I just had it on my screen, give me 1 second.

Um scheduled for May the 5th at 10:00 p.m. in room 309.

Um that'll be with with the department heads and um the fire chief, so that's where we'll start the discussion.

Um at the time, I believe we just voted for um Margaret Sweet to be the representative from the board on that.

Um So I can touch base with her to confirm that.

Thank you.

Just as we Oh, I'm sorry. And just as we mentioned before, um was before the select board to discuss Article 24. Ms. Miller and I also went last week 2 weeks ago to the Finance Committee to give the presentation then. Uh, one of the recommendations, like I said, that came out of it was to provide a little more detail on where the moving parts were from the red line of the existing site plan review bylaw.

Uh, I think it's something that staff can end relatively quickly, but I need to We need to get working on that and have the board take a look at it at least on the 11th so I can get it to the clerk to get into all the town meeting members' packets for delivery prior to town meeting.

Thank you.

Master plan implementation report. I I don't have anything to share. Dan, do you at this point?

No, I'm not I I wanted to just ask about this.

Um, it's been on here. I looked back at previous meetings. These were This line item was originally when the master plan was being updated. So, I don't know if that's what the purpose of this is because we've kind of taking things on a section-by-section basis involved in other aspects of our discussion. So, I wanted to ask the board, is this something that they was still needed to

be here or was this specifically here as they were implementing the new master plan?

I wasn't here when this was originally discussed.

Yeah, I I I remember discussing it a few years ago and I remember I I quite frankly remember when we put it on there so we wouldn't lose sight of it from meeting to meeting. But, at this point in time, to your point, perhaps we make a motion to remove it from the agenda in a recurring manner and if anything, add a line item specific to a section that's at hand, you know, that's

the topic, if necessary, right?

Wasn't wasn't this line item more specific to making sure that parties were responsible for implementing or or or whether it it's a board or a group or a committee were responsible for like we there were certain action items that were assigned to groups and are they doing it and is it moving forward and and I I thought that was what this this line item referred to is making sure that people are actually doing what

the master plan is uh is said hey this is uh this is something worth doing and and uh this falls under your purview.

This Kevin, this goes back for instance are you talking about just comes to mind when Chris said I'm going to serve head and someone else said I'm going somewhere else and then collectively bringing the information back to each meeting?

No, this is about the master plan.

Okay.

So we're talking about, right?

Yeah.

Okay. So the master plan has a bunch of action items in it and and things that uh that that we want to implement and uh I I thought that this line item was a way of of uh keeping the the concept alive that uh different parties or groups are responsible for uh putting into effect what uh uh some of the action items that are called for by the master plan.

Ned, can I make a comment?

Yes, please.

Um we have we have control over everything that says, you know, the responsibility of the planning board and it's oh you know, let's let's say there's 30 action plans that they feel needs to be done and 10 of them are action plans that the planning board should take, we definitely have control over that.

But we don't have control over what the action plan is for the board of selectmen or conservation or DPW. I mean because we don't we don't have the authority to tell other boards to do anything really. But we do have the authority to make sure that we're doing stuff that's under our um action plan. And you know, some of the things that we talked tonight and you know, this article 24 is all part of

what we're doing to um do the do the action plan.

So I'm Do you know what I'm saying Kevin? I mean we can't tell the Yeah, I know I know we don't have enforcement powers simply because we we did the master plan, but um I I I thought the implementation report was kind of a just a if for nothing else kind of a a scorecard or uh uh a tick sheet that yep, we got this done.

Correct.

So through you Mr. Chairman, I I guess I'm just looking for clarification on what the board would like to see under this item from from staff.

So from you to me and me to the board, do we want this item to remain this line item to remain exactly this way? Do we want to alter it in any way? What what's our recommendation to Dan?

I feel like if it remains this way, we might have to go back and revisit the action items.

Anyone?

the big one obviously is housing that we're trying to address.

I don't know specifically, like I said, that's why I was kind of looking for clarification from from the board on on what you wanted to see from staff on this line item.

The the the other I'm not sure if this is I'm not sure if I'm going down the wrong path, but um you know, under this is there a subsection 40B, 40Y, increased density, developers, DPW infrastructure, you know, categorically is is that what we're looking to outline moving forward?

Kevin, what are your thoughts cuz you're obviously well-versed and I'm struggling with it.

Um I I'm not prepared to take this off. I I I I would like to put some good thought into uh the implementation report and maybe we we revisit this concept after we all kind of put our own thoughts uh into the implementation section.

And um and then have a a better discussion about it.

Fair. And I think that's reasonable and uh if everyone else agrees that Lori was absolutely right. Uh that you know, as the planning board we don't have any kind of uh you know, enforcement uh uh powers to to make sure other groups do their their their part, but uh we can certainly do ours and and uh uh offer that uh that if if there are other groups uh it would be good if if they could

you know, take things off if they've done something.

Sure.

Yeah, and and Mr. Chair, if I can, um my my reaction is I think, you know, it I don't know that we've served ourselves or the town by just having it on a on a uh on an agenda.

And as Kevin said, I I I need to ponder it a little bit, but my instinctive reaction was, you know, is there an opportunity for us to provide periodic updates on the master plan implementation, whether by the board or staff, and you know, is it every 4 months, is it every 6 months as a status update of where the board and staff stand on the implementation.

Yeah, it could be like a quarterly report maybe something something like that. As I said, I'm I'm looking more just like I said for guidance, so whatever direction the board wants, I will provide whatever information is requested, but I just I'm looking for some guidance on on what we're trying to accomplish with this line item.

That's a really valid question, David.

I just I just been here and not really doing much.

Yeah.

So, I'm I'm just looking for clarification.

Well, to Helio's point, I think if um if it's quarterly, that's fine. It and we'll talk about it again at the next meeting but if it can be reflective of touches, whenever we touch the implementation report or instances where we we we made an impact directly related to implementation, those are the recorded, those are the line items. And um it becomes it becomes somewhat of a data point

as to we chip as how we chip away, um and it's not just we, right? It's the evolution of time and what happens to the town and and how things fall into place and correlate with the implementation report. It's not that the implementation report had 100% impact, but things are going to correlate and you're going to be able to reflect on the fact that it was part of the implementation report. So, I think

it's a good idea. We can talk about it again.

Oh, excuse me. Looking back through the the history of the the agendas, I kind of just traced it back and it seemed like there was a lot more information when the master plan was being adopted. So, going forward I'm looking for some guidance. I think the board all wants to take a look at it and and revisit it to to give me some feedback.

There. And that's what we'll do. So, appreciate you bringing it up. Yeah, thank you. Thank you.

Any any department updates, Dan?

Not at this time, no.

I don't have a lengthy chairperson's report, but I will share with you that Kevin Melo has confirmed he will be the alternate.

So, you can record that.

And I just I look forward to the election of officers. I'm I'm hoping that we're a full group at the next meeting and I think for the little time that I've been on the board and for the limited experience that I have had, I'm proud to say that I feel like we've collaborated and we've made progress in many different ways, regardless some of the changes we have faced administratively and over time and

what's happened with the B and the Y and so on and I think the message is we need to be active from the perspective of what we discuss at the board.

And if we do or don't share it with our family, our friends and our circles, the more aware they are, the more effective we become over time.

And that's really my message. If they become as aware as we are, then we collectively will be more effective over time because we'll have buy-in.

And the more buy-in we have, it creates kind of a tide and so on. So, um I just I look forward to the year ahead and uh next meeting, May 11th, hopefully we can make some progress with election of officers, appointments and so on.

If nobody has anything to add, I'm not the one that put agenda item number nine there, but it exists.

I'm looking forward to another 5 years.

Thank you, Kevin. Congratulations to you as well.

Congratulations, Kevin.

Thank you.

It was a bitter fought battle.

Contested race. Contested.

The It's the town that won, so well done Kevin.

Very nice, Hilario.

And just And Mr. Chairman, just as a note, the next meeting will be scheduled for May 11th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Thank you so much.

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Motion made by Hilario Rosa to adjourn, seconded by Kevin Estes. Hilario Rosa?

Yes.

Kevin Estes?

Yes.

Lori Miller?

Yes.

And Nick Cycle pay this, yes. I thank you all and look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.

Good night.

Thank you. Have a great night, everyone.

Good night.