Dartmouth Planning Board withdraws Article 24 zoning bylaw from Spring Town Meeting warrant

DARTMOUTH -- May 11, 2026, Dartmouth Planning Board pulls zoning article, elects new leadership amid state housing legislation uncertainty. The board voted 5-0 at its May 11 virtual meeting to withdraw its sponsorship of proposed Article 24 site plan review bylaw amendments and to ask the Select Board to remove the article from the Spring Town Meeting warrant, acting on advice from Town Counsel Attorney Brian Cruz that the governor's newly filed Mass WINS Act, filed April 16, would so fundamentally alter how site plan review works under state law that enacting local changes now would likely require the town to redo the work once the legislature acts. "If that legislation passes, you are going to have to revise the bylaw again, no matter what," Cruz told the board. The board also reorganized, unanimously electing Lori Miller as chair, Hylia Rosa as vice chair, and Kevin Estes as clerk for 2026-2027, replacing outgoing Chair Nick Psychopatis. Separately, the board reviewed but declined to approve a site plan application from South Coast Development for a 5,355-square-foot gas station and convenience store at 411 Faunce Corner Road, asking the applicant to return June 1 with a revised plan resolving outstanding Department of Public Works comments.