The Town of Needham Planning Board and the Large House Study Committee discussed timing and technical work for the committee’s recommendations and directed staff to prepare a calendar and pursue consultant work to support proposed zoning changes.

Planning staff said the committee expects to hold a public "listening" meeting in May (after town meeting) and additional public engagement in June, followed by 3‑D modeling and fiscal analysis over the summer. The consultants’ modeling results are expected to be presented in the fall; the board discussed a target to have draft recommendations in hand by October so the Planning Board can schedule public hearings in the winter (January–March) ahead of an anticipated town meeting vote the following spring.

Board members stressed that the fiscal impact analysis is a high priority. A board member emphasized that the fiscal analysis should address impacts across stakeholders — sellers, buyers, the town (tax revenue), and neighboring property owners — and said the fiscal study is critical to communicating ramifications of proposed limits on house size.

Staff said they are preparing an RFP for a 3‑D modeling consultant and that fiscal impact work can be run in parallel or follow the modeling results; the board asked staff to circulate a proposed calendar at the April 15 meeting so members can “work backwards” from town meeting deadlines. The board also discussed the Wellesley two‑track approach (a buy‑right limit with a waiver/review path), and staff said the consultant will test a range of variables (FAR, lot coverage, height) across sample conforming and nonconforming lots.

No formal vote was taken on zoning language at this meeting; the board recorded direction to staff to prepare a schedule, issue/advance RFP work, and coordinate public engagement with the Large House Study Committee.