Hamilton Planning Board debates transparency and state housing law in downtown revitalization kickoff

HAMILTON — May 8, 2024 — Hamilton Planning Board clashes over state housing law's role in the town's new downtown revitalization effort. The board heard Acting Chair Amal Dahlquist outline a contract already awarded to Boston firm UTILE to produce a form-based zoning code for the downtown district, with a deadline of April 2025 town meeting. Member Patrick Norton challenged the transparency of an advisory committee selection process controlled by a four-person group including Dahlquist, Planning Director Patrick Reffern, Rick Mitchell, and Joe Demilowitz, asking publicly, "Who decided who's on that list?" Member Jonathan Poor called for separating the form-based code visioning work from MBTA Communities Act compliance — the state multifamily housing mandate — into distinct work streams, warning, "If we do not separate those two processes, this is doomed." Resident Linda Preston of 288 Highland Street said early framing of the project left her feeling the outcome was "a done deal." The board also reviewed the draft Master Plan, identifying errors and gaps in coverage of water quality and education, but took no action, deferring substantive edits to Chair Marty Crouch's return.