Finance Committee members on Feb. 10 supported the Planning Boards positive recommendation on Article 61, a citizen-sponsored zoning map change that would move a 3-acre portion of a larger parcel on Woodland Drive from LUG2 into R20 and align the whole tract under one residential overlay. Committee members discussed the proposal at length with the proponent, identified in the meeting as Steven (proponent), and several neighbors who addressed the committee.

What was proposed and why: the rezoning would put a contiguous piece of the property into the R20 district (20,000-square-foot minimum lots) and the Town Overlay, which the proponent says would allow a coordinated plan for year-round, attainable homes. The change would make the site more consistent with the surrounding Woodland Drive pattern and would facilitate a subdivision or a potential flex development (a Planning Board special-permit tool that can cluster lots and create conserved open space in exchange for certain density bonuses).

Concerns and conditions: neighbors and committee members raised concerns about the potential for higher density, septic capacity and town service demand on private roads without sidewalks or regular plowing/sanding. The Planning Boards favorable recommendation (3-2) came with an expectation that the proponent would pursue detailed commitments before Town Meeting, including recorded deed restrictions and occupancy/affordability requirements and clear limits on the number of dwellings and heights. The proponent said he had been meeting with neighbors and planned to record restrictions and work with the Affordable Housing Trust, and that the final project presented to voters would include specific, enforceable restrictions.

Why it matters: The article links the local conversation about attainable, year-round housing with practical constraints (sewer availability, septic capacity, private-road infrastructure), neighborhood character, and the mechanics of how zoning tools like flex development can increase unit counts while creating shared open space.

Committee action: Finance Committee members voted to support the Planning Board recommendation for Article 61. Committee members asked the proponent and Planning staff to bring final text and commitments, including deed restrictions and monitoring/assignment for any affordable or year-round units, to the Planning Board and, if available, to Finance Committee members prior to Town Meeting.

Quotes

"What I'm seeking is the end result of there being year-round ownership homes, freestanding homes, at attainable pricing with year-round occupancy restrictions," proponent Steven said, summarizing his stated goals for the site.

"There will be a very, well defined plan including site plans and floor plans for houses and all sorts of other things," Steven said when members asked what would be ready before voters act.

Ending

The Finance Committees advisory vote supports the Planning Boards positive recommendation, but members emphasized they expect specific, written restrictions, monitoring arrangements and clarity on sewer or septic solutions before they would view the project as a settled plan.