Erving Planning Board Agrees Multi-Unit Dwellings Should Require Special Permit Townwide

ERVING -- November 19, 2020, Erving Planning Board reaches working consensus on multi-family zoning rules and presses toward Select Board joint session. Meeting remotely on November 19, the board agreed that two-unit dwellings should be permitted by right in all zoning districts, while three-unit and larger multi-family buildings should require a special permit townwide, a change from earlier drafts that had allowed them by right in some districts. Member Debra Smith drove the three-unit decision, arguing smaller neighborhood lots make unrestricted multi-family construction a risk. The board also flagged a state-mandated floodplain bylaw update that must be folded into Erving's ongoing zoning revision, with Chair Michael Schaefer agreeing to request a joint meeting with the Select Board to address required appointments and enforcement questions. A December 17 meeting was set, including a presentation from town IT staff on modernizing the town's wireless communications overlay district.