West Newbury Planning Board Adopts Stormwater Rules, Hires Interim Planner for June Start

WEST NEWBURY -- May 19, 2026, West Newbury Planning Board unanimously adopts amended stormwater regulations and announces an interim planner starting June 8. The board voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve updates to its stormwater rules, including a new set of erosion-control performance standards for tree-harvesting projects disturbing one acre or more of land, activity previously exempt from local permitting. Lori Kennedy of Horsley Whitten Group, who has worked with the town on stormwater rules for several years, explained that the changes also make clerical corrections to match bylaw language approved at last spring's town meeting and align procedures with Board of Health practice. The board amended one provision during the hearing, adding the phrase "to the extent practicable" before a requirement that stumps and roots be left in place, after Clerk Raymond A. Cook argued the original language was too absolute. Chair Ann E. Bardeen separately announced that the town has reached an agreement in principle with a contract planner through a firm called Planner in a Pinch, with a start date of June 8 and a cap of 10 hours per week, pending Finance Committee approval of a budget line transfer the following day.