Orleans Planning Board Sets Sept. 8 Zoning Hearing
Planning Board · Meeting of August 11, 2026
Orleans Planning Board votes to advertise a Sept. 8 hearing on zoning changes, including an inclusionary waiver for all-attainable housing. Resident Alan McLennan, representing the Little Lanes Initiative, told the board the town's 10 percent inclusionary rule has produced just three affordable units since 2017 and asked for an exemption for developments built as 100 percent deed-restricted attainable housing. Vice Chair Lynne Eickholt said requiring "an affordable unit for every 10" attainable units "doesn't make sense," and the board voted 4-0, with Peter Pohlemus absent, to fold the exemption into its Downtown Housing Overlay District article rather than file it separately.
The same hearing will cover a use-table rewrite raising the special-permit threshold for commercial expansions from 2,500 to 4,000 square feet, a new stand-alone parking article, and removal of a 1986 building-separation rule staff called outdated. The board separately endorsed, 5-0, an approval-not-required plan on Namequoit Road.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,841 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of August 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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