Northbridge Planning Board reviews land use goals in master plan update.
Northbridge Planning Board's steering committee reviews land use goals for master plan update. Ron Barron of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission presented four primary goals: village-scale development in historic centers, expanded missing-middle housing options, open space and
Planning Board · Meeting of April 28, 2026
Northbridge Planning Board's steering committee reviews land use goals for master plan update. Ron Barron of the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission presented four primary goals: village-scale development in historic centers, expanded missing-middle housing options, open space and agricultural land preservation, and multi-modal transportation connections. Discussion surfaced concerns about affordable-housing assumptions for ADUs and cottage-style homes, parking-location specificity, and map-based multi-modal feasibility.
Planning Director R. Gary Bechtholdt II advocated for Transfer Development Rights and inclusionary zoning across multiple chapters; Michael Maughan-Brown (CMRPC) confirmed he is preparing a TDR report for board presentation. The Land Use Chapter draft is expected by May 26, 2026; a presentation to the Board of Selectmen is scheduled for May 18, 2026.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 343 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of April 28, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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