Westport public meetings in 2023

Work Session

The Planning Board is holding a work session to discuss amendments to the Westport Zoning Bylaws and Subdivision Regulations. Proposed changes cover short-term rentals, living facilities, lot geometry, and the creation of new zoning districts.

• Amendments to Section 9.8 to regulate short-term rentals and bed and breakfasts, including Board of Health registration
• Proposed renaming of the Science and Technology Overlay District to the Science and Technology Mixed-Use District to include multi-unit housing
• Creation of a new Westport Gateway District to replace the Business District between Fall River and Route 88
• Proposal to replace the Unrestricted District with a Rural/Agricultural District
• Amendments to Section 9.1 regarding Assisted and Independent Living Facilities and congregate living definitions

Regular meeting

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing regarding a special permit for an independent living facility. The board will also review a site plan for an adolescent education facility and discuss a draft short-term rental bylaw amendment.

• Special Permit for Westport Lakes (Assessor’s Map 31 Lots 3B, 3C and 4G) for 26 duplexes and 4 single family homes (56 units total)
• Site plan review for conversion of 435 Old Harbor Road into an adolescent education facility
• Draft short-term rental bylaw amendment for consideration
• Route 6 Rezoning project update
• Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation Grant updates

The Planning Board set a public hearing for January 9, 2024, to review a draft short-term rental bylaw amendment from the Short-Term Rental Committee. The board also continued two public hearings: the Westport Lakes ILF project to March 19, 2024, and the 435 Old Harbor Road education facility to January 9, 2024. Additionally, the board voted to recommend the town repair a road settlement in front of Coastal Healing and seek reimbursement from the property owner.

• Set public hearing for Short-Term Rental By-Law amendment to January 9, 2024 (5-0)
• Forwarded draft Short-Term Rental By-Law amendment to Board of Selectmen for review (5-0)
• Continued Westport Lakes ILF public hearing to March 19, 2024 (5-0)
• Continued 435 Old Harbor Road public hearing to January 9, 2024 (5-0)
• Recommended town repair road settlement at Coastal Healing and seek reimbursement from property owner (5-0)

Regular meeting

The Planning Board will hold public hearings on two subdivision projects and receive reports on municipal vulnerability preparedness and Route 6 rezoning. The board will also consider a 2-lot plan for land on River Road and Puddingstone Lane.

• Definitive subdivision plan for Cory Ridge Estates at 265 Cornell Road to create four lots
• Approval Not Required (ANR) plan for 416 River Road and 0 Puddingstone Lane
• Lot and Surety Release Request for Stacy Lane Subdivision (431 Fisher Road LLC)
• Public meeting recap regarding Route 6 Rezoning
• Invoice for East Bay Media Route 6 Re-zoning Ad for $115.00

Regular meeting

The Westport Planning Board voted unanimously to continue two public hearings to December 12, 2023: a retail marijuana dispensary at 260 State Road and a nine-lot subdivision on Drift Road. The board also approved an ANR plan for a new lot at 17 Adamsville Road and adopted a five-minute public comment limit.

• Approved ANR plan for 17 Adamsville Road (4-0)
• Continued Salty Breeze dispensary hearing to December 12 (4-0)
• Continued Marcotte Drive subdivision hearing to December 12 (4-0)
• Adopted five-minute public comment limit

Regular meeting

The Westport Planning Board approved a minor site plan for a motorcycle repair business at 146 State Road, including a waiver of technical compliance. The board also endorsed a 2-lot subdivision at 234 Pine Hill Road and continued a public hearing for a property at Plat 21 Lot 8A to November 14, 2023.

• Approved endorsement of 2-lot plan at 234 Pine Hill Road (5-0)
• Approved minor site plan for motorcycle repair business at 146 State Road with waiver (5-0)
• Continued public hearing for Plat 21 Lot 8A to November 14, 2023 (5-0)
• Adopted time-limit policy for public comment (5-0)

Regular meeting

The Westport Planning Board approved a minor modification to a previously approved site plan for Silverback Construction at 2 Cheryl's Way, allowing the stairwell to be moved outside and reducing parking by one space. The board also continued a public hearing for a special permit at 82 Highridge Road due to lack of applicant representation. Additionally, the board received updates on the Housing Production Plan and other ongoing projects.

• Approved minor site plan modification for Silverback Construction at 2 Cheryl's Way (4-0)
• Continued public hearing for special permit at 82 Highridge Road to October 3, 2023 (4-0)
• Approved invoices for Westport Shorelines legal notice ($533) and Quill chairs ($588.88) (4-0)

Regular meeting

The Westport Planning Board approved several administrative items, including modifications to a definitive subdivision plan at 431 Fisher Road, release of lots on Stacy Lane, and closeout of consultant review balances. The board also discussed a pre-application for an adolescent education and housing facility at 435 Old Harbor Road, providing feedback on stormwater, septic, and zoning requirements. No substantive decisions were made on the pre-application.

• Approved modification to definitive subdivision plan at 431 Fisher Road (4-0)
• Released lots 7,8,9,11,12,13 from restrictions on Stacy Lane (4-0)
• Released $470 + interest consultant review balance for 0 Gifford Road (4-0)
• Released $1,500 + interest consultant review balance for Plat 29 Lot 22C (4-0)
• Endorsed Mylar for definitive subdivision at Inheritance Lane (4-0)
• Granted full release of $50,000 performance surety for Brookwood Solar landscaping (4-0)
• Re-approved minutes of June 13, June 27, and July 11, 2023 (5-0)

Regular meeting

The Westport Planning Board denied a major modification to a special permit that would have eliminated sidewalks in the Oakridge Condominium development, citing safety concerns and non-compliance with zoning by-laws. The board also approved an ANR plan for a 2-lot subdivision at 17 Franklin Street and set a $100,000 surety for incomplete work at 431 Fisher Road.

• Denied major modification to eliminate sidewalks at Oakridge Condominiums (5-0)
• Approved ANR endorsement for 2-lot subdivision at 17 Franklin Street (5-0)
• Set $100,000 surety for incomplete work at 431 Fisher Road 'Stacy Lane' (5-0)

Regular meeting

The Westport Planning Board voted 5-0 to authorize the chairman to appoint two members to a working group with the Zoning Board of Appeals to draft a short-term rental bylaw amendment for the 2024 Town Meeting. The board also closed out consultant review fees and surety for Medeiros Farm, endorsed subdivision forms for Gifford Road and Inheritance Lane, and discussed a sidewalk waiver request for Bentley Estates II without a vote.

• Authorized chairman to appoint two Planning Board members to short-term rental working group (5-0)
• Closed out consultant review fees of $749.60 plus interest and surety balance of $85,132.60 plus interest for Medeiros Farm (5-0)
• Endorsed Form B-1 for Gifford Road (23-013B-RRL)
• Endorsed Forms F-RRL and C-2 for Inheritance Lane (23-010C-RRL)
• Approved W.B. Mason invoice of $25.16 (5-0)

Regular meeting

The Westport Planning Board approved the definitive subdivision plan for Inheritance Lane, creating two buildable lots off Old Pine Hill Road, along with requested waivers. The board also approved a preliminary subdivision on Gifford Road, three ANR plans, and committee re-appointments. A public hearing for Stoneridge was withdrawn without prejudice.

• Approved Inheritance Lane definitive subdivision plan (4-0)
• Approved waivers for Inheritance Lane (4-0)
• Approved preliminary subdivision plan for Rural Road (4-0)
• Approved ANR plan for 0 Division Road (4-0)
• Approved ANR plan for Gifford Road and Mouse Mill Road (4-0)
• Approved ANR plan for 0 Granite Post Road (4-0)
• Accepted withdrawal of Stoneridge application without prejudice (4-0)
• Approved committee re-appointments for Whitin, Bullard, Schmid, Daylor, Soares (4-0)

Regular meeting

The Westport Planning Board unanimously reorganized its leadership, keeping Jim Whitin as Chair, Robert Daylor as Vice-Chair, and Mark L. Schmid as Clerk. The board approved an Approval Not Required (ANR) plan for three lots at 408 Sodom Road and continued a public hearing for the Oakridge development to July 11, 2023, pending legal guidance. No substantive decisions were made on the Oakridge sidewalk elimination or other pending items.

• Reelected Jim Whitin as Chair, Robert Daylor as Vice-Chair, Mark L. Schmid as Clerk (4-0)
• Appointed Manuel Soares and Robert Daylor to Infrastructure Committee (4-0)
• Reappointed Jim Whitin as SRPEDD representative (4-0)
• Authorized chair to sign support letter for Rural and Small Town Fund and Commonwealth Places grants (4-0)
• Authorized chair to amend ARPA letter of support for Main Road corridor plan (4-0)
• Approved ANR plan for 408 Sodom Road, creating three lots (4-0)
• Continued Oakridge public hearing to July 11, 2023 (4-0)
• Approved April 4, 2023 minutes as written (4-0)

Regular meeting

The Planning Board approved a Special Permit for flexible frontage and a land plan endorsement for the Buzzards Bay Coalition. The board also recommended a temporary certificate of occupancy for Prestige Auto Mart Inc.

• Approved endorsement of land plan for Buzzards Bay Coalition at 559 Main Road (3-0-1)
• Recommended 90-day temporary Certificate of Occupancy for Prestige Auto Mart Inc. at 50 Forge Road (4-0-0)
• Approved Special Permit for Flexible Frontage for Buzzards Bay Coalition at 559 Main Road (3-0-0, 1 abstention)
• Approved March 7, 2023 meeting minutes (4-0-0)

Regular meeting

The Planning Board voted to request that Selectmen authorize the use of a $87,000 surety to complete the Maya Way project after a developer defaulted. The Board also closed the 2023 Zoning By-Law Amendment public hearing and continued a hearing for the Stoneridge development project.

• Approved request for Selectmen to authorize $87,000 expenditure for Maya Way project (5-0-0)
• Endorsed Form G for $100,000 performance guarantee surety for 202 Pine Hill Road
• Continued Stoneridge public hearing to June 13, 2023 (5-0-0)
• Closed 2023 Zoning By-Law Amendment public hearing (5-0-0)
• Approved February 21, 2023 meeting minutes (5-0-0)

Regular meeting

The Planning Board endorsed performance sureties for two projects and approved a plan for three lots at 484 Sanford Road. The board also approved two administrative invoices and the minutes from the February 7 meeting.

• Endorsed Form G for Performance Surety for Route 88 Solar 1, LLC (18-011SP)
• Endorsed Form G for 0 Brookwood Drive (19-005SP)
• Approved endorsement of Approval Not Required Plan for 484 Sanford Road (5-0)
• Approved East Bay Media Group legal ad invoice for $246.00 (5-0)
• Approved W.B. Mason computer supplies invoice for $76.94 (5-0)
• Approved February 7, 2023 minutes as amended (5-0)

Regular meeting

The Planning Board approved a plan of land for the Richard Family Trust at 533 Horseneck Road. The board also voted to support a Buzzard's Bay Coalition grant application and request matching funds from the Board of Selectmen.

• Approved endorsement of Plan of Land for 533 Horseneck Road (unanimous)
• Approved support for Buzzard Bay Coalition application and request for $30,000 in ARPA funds (5-0)
• Approved January 10, 2023 minutes as amended (4-0, 1 abstention)

Regular meeting

The Planning Board granted a one-year extension for a solar project and approved a land plan for 34 Old Harbor Road. The Board also authorized a request for $20,000 in ARPA funds for a Route 6 zoning study and recommended the FY24 budget.

• Approved release of $3,691.92 plus interest in inspection fees for Braybach Lane (4-0)
• Granted 1-year extension to Westport Route 88 Solar 1, LLC until Nov 6, 2023, conditioned on $50,000 surety and as-built survey (4-0)
• Authorized request to Selectboard for $20,000 in ARPA funds for Route 6 rezoning (4-0)
• Approved endorsement of land plan for 34 Old Harbor Road (4-0)
• Recommended the FY24 Planning Department budget to the Finance Committee (4-0)
• Approved November 29, 2022 minutes (4-0)
• Approved December 13, 2022 minutes with correction (3-0, 1 abstention)
• Supported CRC's MVP application for outreach and adaptive reuse of the old high school (4-0)