West Newbury Planning Board Recommends Three Zoning Bylaw Amendments to Select Board

WEST NEWBURY -- February 4, 2025, West Newbury Planning Board unanimously advances three zoning bylaw amendments and sets MBTA site vote for February 12. The board voted 5-0 Tuesday night to recommend changes to accessory dwelling unit rules, a new battery energy storage system bylaw, and floodplain overlay district language to the Select Board for the spring town meeting warrant, currently scheduled for April 28. Building Commissioner Sam, identified only by first name, told the board that state ADU law under the Affordable Homes Act took effect February 2 regardless of local action, making adoption largely a matter of "avoiding confusion," and that without the battery storage bylaw, large containerized battery arrays could be sited in town as protected utility uses with little local review. The floodplain changes are required before new FEMA maps take effect July 8 or residents in flood zones risk losing National Flood Insurance Program coverage. The board also confirmed a joint meeting with the Select Board on February 12, at which it expects to vote on which of two candidate parcels to recommend for MBTA Communities Act zoning, with a formal public hearing to follow March 18.