West Newbury Planning Board advances comprehensive plan scope toward December RFP

WEST NEWBURY -- November 4, 2025, West Newbury Planning Board advances comprehensive plan scope and sets December target for steering committee. The board reviewed a revised draft visioning scope document Tuesday, praising updated front-end language that better explains the purpose of the effort to prospective consultants and the public, and directed planning consultant Chris to incorporate further changes, including removing outdated county references, clarifying department-head input, and adding a draft-report requirement, before a potential final approval at the December 2 meeting. Members discussed forming a master plan steering committee structured around the eight statutory elements of a certified plan, with representatives drawn from relevant boards and commissions and a small number of at-large residents, aiming to have invitations out by early December and the committee seated by January. Chair Ann noted the town is newly eligible for One Stop state grants with applications due in June, making a completed visioning phase by that date an achievable but tight goal; grant awards would not be known until October. The board also agreed to open its December 2 meeting at 5 p.m. to watch a Massachusetts CPDC training session on community planning together before continuing its regular agenda.