Planning staff and members of the building-commissioner/zoning working group presented a draft zoning amendment that would broaden permitted uses in Industrial Park districts to reflect post-pandemic business types and allow additional commercial and light-industrial activities.

Why it matters: The existing Industrial Park use table is out of date, and building owners and economic-development staff say the town is losing potential tenants because allowable uses are too narrowly defined. The draft aims to add modern uses such as certain light manufacturing, data processing/record storage, scientific research and development, indoor recreation/fitness, and similar categories.

Board feedback: Members praised the effort but urged caution. Several board members favored keeping potentially higher-impact activities (for example, manufacturing above a modest size) subject to special-permit review rather than allowing large-scale manufacturing by right. Members and staff recommended consolidating use categories into broader buckets (for example, “office/technology/processing” or “recreation/fitness/commercial services”) with detailed examples in a guidance appendix or departmental checklist so the building commissioner can apply the bylaw consistently.

Timing and next steps: Board members expressed concern about the town meeting calendar and the heavy agenda of pending hearings in February; several suggested the board take more time and submit a thoroughly vetted final article for either the spring or—if necessary—the fall town meeting. The economic development coordinator said the EDC supports updating the bylaws but that technical assistance from the regional planning agency or a corridor study could help produce a cleaner, better-targeted article.

Outcome: The board did not vote on a text tonight. Planning staff will continue refining the draft, consider simpler consolidated use categories, and coordinate with town counsel, the building commissioner, and the EDC before presenting a final article for the board’s approval.