Planning Board continues two hearings to July 15

Planning Board · Meeting of July 1, 2026

Amherst's Planning Board continued two public hearings to July 15, on a clean energy siting bylaw and a five-unit affordable housing project at 174 Amity Street. A member said the town faces a state deadline to adopt the bylaw "or risk having the state take over approval" of solar and battery storage projects. The board voted 6-0, with one member absent, to continue the bylaw hearing while members debate well setback distances.

On Amity Street, attorney Felicity Hardy told the board the Amherst Community Land Trust and Habitat for Humanity project needs more time to finalize an electrical transformer location; the board voted 5-0, with one member recused and one absent, to continue that hearing. Member Angus McLeod also presented a proposal to allow apartments and mixed-use housing in the town's professional research park districts.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Minutes
• Site Plan Review: 174 Amity Street Affordable Duplex (SPR 2026-04)
• Clean Energy Infrastructure Bylaw (Article 18) Continued Hearing
• East Amherst Local Historic District Proposal
• General Housing Discussion: PRP Zoning Amendments
• New Business
• Committee and Liaison Reports / Staff Report
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,366 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of July 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.