This website has been developed for the residents of
the Town of Southborough and others interested in the
comprehensive review and update of Southborough's Zoning
By-law and Subdivision Rules and Regulations. Please
use this website to get more detailed information about
the project and become engaged in this very important
planning process.
Why Update the Zoning Bylaw?
The Town's Zoning By-Law and Subdivision Rules and
Regulations have been periodically revised with small
changes and updates over the past 20 years. Because
zoning is a dynamic process, Zoning By-Laws should be
reviewed and updated to keep pace with changing land
use goals and with the evolving vision of the Town.
The goals of this project include an overall diagnostic
of our Zoning By-Laws to ensure internal consistency,
conformance with State and Federal laws, improved clarity
of language, and alignment with the goals and objectives
of the recently completed 2008
Master Plan.
In the summer of 2008, the Board of Selectmen created
and appointed the Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC) to
manage this project. The ZAC will report regularly on
its progress to the Planning Board, as the Planning
Board will be the body to sponsor any zoning articles
to Town Meeting—which is currently expected to
occur at a Fall, 2010 Town Meeting.
Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC)
Dana E. Cunningham, Co-Chair
Donald C. Morris, Co-Chair
Kathleen B. Bartolini
Steven C. Davis
William Boland
John H. Leeds, Jr.
Sam R. Stivers
Nancy A. Vargas
Lee Bartolini
Following a competitive Request for Proposals process,
the ZAC recommended that Community Opportunities Group
(COG) be selected from the four bidders as the consulting
firm to assist the Town with this ambitious and exciting
project. The Project Manager, Judi Barrett, is the Director
of Planning at COG, and has more than 20 years of experience
in planning, zoning, housing policy, and fiscal and
economic impact studies. The COG project team also includes
planners, urban designers, and civil engineers.
This process will continue for approximately 18 months,
and will include many opportunities for public participation:
public forums, focus groups, public meetings, one-on-one
meetings, stakeholder meetings, etc. It is crucial to
this process that Town residents are engaged and are
aware of the progress of the project.
The ZAC will be meeting monthly as we move the project
forward. Please click HERE
for the meeting calendar and meeting minutes. All
meetings are open to the public and we encourage all
who may be interested in this process to attend.
What is happening now?
During November, COG will be meeting with various stakeholders
in initial, informal information-gathering meetings.
These meetings will help COG understand the experiences
that users of the Zoning By-Law and Subdivision Regulations
have with the existing regulations. This will help COG
as they prepare their initial zoning diagnostic report.
If you or your group would like to participate in this
initial process, please contact the Town
Planner.
On January 7, 2009, the ZAC held an "All Boards"
meeting, to discuss specific questions
with land use boards and committees in Southborough.
Currently, as of October 2009, the ZAC is reviewing
the first draft of the zoning bylaw. Once significant
policy decisions and the direction that the bylaw will
be going in is established, the second draft will be
available for a more widespread review.
Southborough Zoning Bylay - Third Reading - August 2011
Southborough Zoning Bylaw - Second Draft - May 5, 2010
Zoning Bylaw Second Reading Addendum - May 6, 2010
DRAFT
Zoning Diagnostic Report
Click here for links to
Town By-Laws and Planning Regulations
