The Board of Selectmen reviewed a planning‑led zoning article on April 8 that would convert the existing Medical Services Overlay District (MSOD) into an underlying Medical Services District (MSD) as part of efforts to clear a zoning path for a future hospital redevelopment.

Town staff said the original MSOD had been adopted quickly to allow the hospital redevelopment work to proceed and that converting the overlay into a base district is largely “housekeeping” — it would make medical services the underlying zoning on specific parcels and remove the possibility of other unrelated base uses remaining available under the General Business District. Planning staff and task‑force members said they requested the change to make zoning clearer for potential hospital operators and to remove ambiguity around permitted uses.

Planning board members and selectmen, however, urged caution. Planning board members said converting the overlay into a base district requires systematically filling the town’s table of uses for the new district (assigning permissibility to hundreds of potential uses) and that the conversion can introduce new, unanticipated allowances unless the language is carefully vetted. Several board members and planning staff raised concerns that too‑broad wording could permit uses such as life‑science research, manufacturing or other medical‑adjacent activities that residents might not want in the district unless clearly intended.

Town counsel reviewed a draft wording and advised selectmen that the proposed article includes language that replaces the MSOD/General Business designation with an explicit Medical Services District reference, which counsel said would accomplish the conversion. Several selectmen nevertheless requested more time for the planning board, task force and town counsel to work through the table of uses and the exact list of affected parcels, and for the planning board to hold a public hearing and finalize a recommendation before the article is brought to town meeting.

Why it matters: The zoning change is meant to expedite reuse of the former hospital site by creating a clear, single medical‑services zoning category. Critics warn that rushed or incomplete drafting might permit unintended uses or obscure long‑term land‑use implications; supporters say a clear district will help attract a hospital operator.

What’s next: Planning must schedule its public hearing and finalize recommended language; selectmen asked for further review and a more complete presentation of the proposed use table and parcel map before the board takes a final position.