Final Warrant Versions of Erosion Control and Groundwater Bylaws Imminent

The Planning Board is working diligently to finalize draft versions of the amendment to the Groundwater Protection Overlay District (§ 125-56) and the proposed new Erosion Control Regulations (§ 125-57). The public hearing for these amendments has been over over the last several Planning Board meetings and while it will remain open for several more, the language for the warrant will be finalized late next week. Recent edits to these amendments include the following:

Groundwater

1. Added a range of exemptions
2. Placed Definitions Section at the end of the amendment

Note that the Groundwater Section largely follows the State Model Bylaw but has been modified in this iteration for flexibility.

Erosion Control

1. Simplified the Purpose Section
2. Placed Definitions Section at the end of the amendment
3. Clarified Applicability Section with the intent to make it easier to understand and follow
4. Town Counsel has made some edits and deletions
5. Some waivers have been converted to exemptions and others have been clarified
6. Roles of specific players have been clarified

If you are interested in these latest versions, please request by email to cryan@harvard.ma.us and I will send you a pdf copy. We welcome your comments up to April 1st for warrant article version and beyond.