Ashland Planning Board Advances Master Plan Chapters, Reorganizes Leadership

Planning Board · Meeting of May 7, 2026

Ashland Planning Board reorganizes leadership and sends two master plan chapters to public comment. At the May 7 meeting, the board voted 3-0 with one abstention to retain Kendall as chair, elevate Linda Barnes to vice chair, and name Tricia Ferris as recording secretary. The board unanimously approved a one-page community vision statement and a recreational use chapter, which includes five recommendations covering parks, a potential dog park, and a town recreational web page, for public release and input.

A home occupation application for a small yarn and quilt shop on North Ashland Road passed unanimously, conditioned on building inspector review of setbacks and signage. The board also heard from a local business owner, identified only as Don, who argued that a state-mandated 9-1-1 address change for a shared private driveway at 50 Winter Street would impose significant rebranding costs on businesses that have operated under that address for a decade, with the final naming decision resting with the Select Board.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 978 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of May 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.