0:03In a recent session, board approved the Hampden Veterinary Clinic Realty LLC’s application to expand its existing parking lot on Summers Road. The approval followed a public hearing where representatives from Rea Associates presented updates to the site plan, noting that all previous concerns had been resolved. The plans, dated March 12, 2025, received unanimous support from the board, allowing the clinic to move forward with the expansion. This decision came after a legal notice was published in the Werham Hampden Times earlier in February.

The board also addressed an Approval Not Required (ANR) plan for a property on Summer Road, which involved transferring a piece of land to create a conforming lot with adequate frontage. Following a detailed review of the measurements, the board confirmed the plan’s compliance, approving it unanimously on February 28, 2025.

Attention then turned to a home occupation application from a resident seeking to operate an eBay business from his home on Fisher Lane. The applicant assured the board that the business would not disrupt the neighborhood, as all goods would be managed from his personal business in Granby. After confirming that no deliveries or employees would operate from the residence, the board approved the home occupation application.

However, discussions about ADUs dominated the meeting, reflecting ongoing challenges in reconciling local bylaws with state regulations. The board reviewed proposed amendments to the ADU bylaws, with particular focus on comments from a board member who had contacted the Attorney General’s office about specific provisions. The discourse centered on whether site plan approval requirements for ADUs were necessary, given that such requirements did not apply to single-family homes.

The urgency of finalizing bylaw amendments was emphasized, with a public hearing slated for April 16, 2025, and a draft submission deadline of April 1. The board acknowledged the complexities of town regulations on ADUs, particularly regarding the state’s new guidelines that local options could limit the number of ADUs on a single lot. Current regulations permit more than one ADU by special permit, which conflicts with recent state directives. This issue is set to be addressed further at the advisory committee’s public hearing on March 31, 2025, ahead of the town meeting in May.

20:44As the meeting progressed, the board discussed preparations for legal notices related to an upcoming special planning meeting focused on ADUs and zoning bylaws. Members highlighted the March 20 deadline for submitting these notices to the Hamom Waham Times. The necessity of finalizing the wording of warrant articles by April 1 was also stressed, though amendments could still be made at the town meeting.

In broader discussions, the board touched upon state legislation affecting local governance, expressing concerns about the limitations imposed by state laws and the inequitable access to funding for municipal projects. A member noted frustrations with the exclusion of non-NBTA towns from certain state-funded programs, which impacts grants for libraries and cultural initiatives.

The conversation also covered logistical matters, including the need for a planning board representative at the upcoming Community Preservation Committee meeting on March 19. Board members discussed document management improvements, emphasizing the importance of organized filing systems to streamline future meetings.