Lunenburg Planning Board Continues Parmenter Road Hearings, Approves Two Stormwater Permits

Planning Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Lunenburg Planning Board continued two sets of public hearings for a 24-lot Benjamin Builders development on Parmenter Road, approved a stormwater permit for 934 Mass Ave, and heard a staff preview suggesting the town should reconsider its approach to inclusionary zoning. Planning Director Steve (surname not confirmed) told the board at the July 13 meeting that an inclusionary housing bylaw is unlikely to yield affordable units in a community of Lunenburg's size because developers routinely design projects one unit below any affordability threshold to avoid the requirement, "even if we offer density bonus." The board debated at length whether shared-driveway stormwater systems across the Parmenter Road lots should be maintained through a homeowners association or deed covenants, with Member Burney arguing deed restrictions "are failures waiting to happen" after recounting an unenforceable lake-property deed arrangement in his own family. The board directed engineer Ryan Proctor of Dillis and Roy to return July 27 with a finalized phasing plan, a Graves Engineering inspection schedule, and a resolved HOA or equivalent mechanism; neighbors Gail and Bart Lawless of 21 Parmenter Street raised concerns about runoff toward Lake Shirley and driveway alignment with Bart Lawless's well.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
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• The complete report — 4,187 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.