Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw Information

October 2023 Update - Getting ready for the November 1, 2023 Special Town Meeting

On Thursday, June 20, 2023, the Planning Board voted to schedule a Public Hearing to consider administrative corrections to the Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw adopted at the February 15, 2023 Special Town Meeting. The Public Hearing was held on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Following the Public Hearing, the Planning Board voted unanimously to request this be added to the warrant for the November 1, 2023 Special Town Meeting. Article 18 of the November 1, 2023 Special Town Meeting Warrant is the proposed amendments to the Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw. 

ARTICLE 18 - Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw
Article 18 amends the Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw adopted at the February 15, 2023 Special Town Meeting, incorporating amendments as suggested by the Attorney General’s Office. The proposed amendments identify the process for the Special Permit Granting Authority (SPGA) to terminate a Special Permit and correct an error in the Use Table. 

Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendments: administrative corrections Article XXXII: Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw
Public Hearing Notice - July 6, 2023

February 15, 2023, Special Town Meeting

The February 15, 2023, special town meeting voted to approve a Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw (PDF).

Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw Proposed

The Planning Board held a Public Hearing starting Wednesday, November 16, 2022 (rescheduled from another date) regarding a proposed Firearm Business Zoning Bylaw. This Public Hearing was continued on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.

Following the Planning Board's Public Hearing, the PB voted to recommend the FINAL proposed Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw to the upcoming Special Town Meeting, and forwarded same to the Select Board to be added to an upcoming Town Meeting Warrant.

Many individuals have provided input; thank you for your time on this.

Comments

  1. Barthel (PDF)
  2. Blakemore (PDF)
  3. Buchholz (PDF)
  4. Dressel (PDF)
  5. Duston (PDF)
  6. Flannery (PDF)
  1. Geraghty (PDF)
  2. Podgorni (PDF)
  3. Provost (PDF)
  4. Rank (PDF)
  5. Stahovec (PDF)

Mapping Exercise for December 7, 2022, Planning Board Meeting

The Planning Board is considering whether using a 1,000-foot setback or using a 500-foot setback provides a number of possible locations for Firearms Businesses. The areas shown in yellow on the maps below are likely potential locations for any new firearms business.

Initial Mapping Exercise

Our IT and Assessors' Departments have generated mapping to visualize locations where a new Firearms Business could be located, if the November 14, 2022 version of the proposed Firearms Business Zoning Bylaw were to be approved at a future Town Meeting. Green areas are zoned Industrial B (IB); Dark red areas are zoned Industrial A (IA). A new firearms business could be allowed, by Special Permit from the Planning Board within an Industrial A or Industrial B property that meets the 1000-foot setback requirement from residential uses and location requirements outlined in Section 173-238. The parcels highlighted in yellow include schools, daycares, churches, parks, and playgrounds noted in Section 173-238. A 1,000-foot setback from those parcels is shown by the red circle shapes; no new Firearms Business could be located within those red circle shapes that are within those green IB) or dark red (IA) districts. The Planning Board is considering whether a 500-foot or 1,000-foot setback is more appropriate.

Based on the mapping, it appears that areas, where a new Firearms Business could be located, include portions of: Beaver Brook Industrial Park, The Point, Ayer Road, Distribution Center Circle, Taylor Street area near Route 495, and Monarch Drive. However, additional analysis is required to determine if 500-foot or 1,000-foot setbacks would allow a sufficient number of potential locations.

Maps with 1000-Foot Setback

Maps with 500-Foot Setback