Select Board, Planning Board Warn on Question 7
Dartmouth Select Board, in a joint session with the Planning Board, warns that a November ballot question allowing 5,000-square-foot house lots could gut local zoning control. Select Board member Shawn D.
Select Board 2026-09-14 Part 2 · Meeting of September 14, 2026
Dartmouth Select Board, in a joint session with the Planning Board, warns that a November ballot question allowing 5,000-square-foot house lots could gut local zoning control. Select Board member Shawn D. McDonald said the campaign behind Ballot Question 7, Legalize Starter Homes, and allied groups have raised nearly $2 million with no recorded opposition spending.
Vice Chair Christopher J. O'Neil called the process "a sidestep to a democratic process," while member Nathan Silva said Dartmouth should help solve the state's housing shortage "but not the whole solution." The board separately appointed Krystal Amaral and Ava Cafasso to the Russells Mills Historic District Commission, named Alexie Rudman to the Conservation Commission, welcomed new Human Resources Director Carol-Ann Mello, and learned the town closed a $28 million federal Bliss Corner environmental settlement for a town cash payment of just $50,000.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 4,620 words
Source: the Select Board 2026-09-14 Part 2 meeting of September 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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