Planning Board appoints two associate members, advances four zoning articles for Town Meeting.
Planning Board unanimously appoints two associate members and advances four zoning articles for Town Meeting. Nancy Garvey, a 20-year resident and former six-year Planning Board member, and Isabella Bates, an 82-year-old full-time resident of 16 years, were appointed to one-year terms expiring June
Planning Board · Meeting of February 2, 2026
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA — Planning Board unanimously appoints two associate members and advances four zoning articles for Town Meeting. Nancy Garvey, a 20-year resident and former six-year Planning Board member, and Isabella Bates, an 82-year-old full-time resident of 16 years, were appointed to one-year terms expiring June 2026; the boards will later decide which associate receives a two-year renewal. Chair Sarah Creighton presented downtown zoning reforms dividing the general district into Town Center (zero parking required for commercial) and Harbor's Edge (up to 15 units per acre with affordable housing mandates), an inn article permitting 12-guest transient accommodations by right downtown, and a senior housing article allowing 10 units per acre that board member Christopher Olney has advocated for approximately eight years.
The board deferred hotel zoning and continues evaluating a request to allow larger accessory dwelling units in D districts.
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Source: the Planning Board meeting of February 2, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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