Planning board and selectmen weigh next steps after zoning amendments fail; reappointments approved

Planning board members met with the Milford Board of Selectmen on March 30 to review reappointments and to discuss the outcome of recent zoning amendments that failed at the ballot.

As the planning board’s acting chair explained, the board intends to invite the selectmen to a joint work session to set priorities and review the master plan outcomes. The acting chair said the planning board wanted to “reconvene” with the selectmen and other stakeholders to “see where we're at” and to plan outreach for upcoming work.

Board members and planning commissioners analyzed why multiple zoning amendments were defeated. Commissioners and selectmen cited low voter engagement and the scale or framing of the downtown overlay proposal as likely contributors to the negative vote. A planning member said some proposals were “probably the lowest hanging fruit” while larger downtown changes may have “blown a lot of people's minds,” which may have affected turnout and choices.

Participants discussed several zoning tools the planning board had proposed — including accessory dwelling units and cottage courts — as potential options for modestly increasing attainable housing while seeking community support. Several members stressed that more targeted public education and earlier engagement would be needed if the town hopes to revisit zoning changes.

The board then moved to reappoint the listed planning board members (changes included converting some alternates to full members); the motion to approve the reappointments was moved, seconded and carried.

The parties agreed to schedule a joint session in the coming months to translate lessons from the election results into a public engagement strategy and to refine any zoning proposals before placing them on a future ballot.