Planning Board approves Pleasant Street duplex plan
The Ashland Planning Board approved a revised site plan for a new duplex at 167-169 Pleasant Street and set a course toward banning data centers townwide.
Planning Board · Meeting of August 27, 2026
ASHLAND — The Ashland Planning Board approved a revised site plan for a new duplex at 167-169 Pleasant Street and set a course toward banning data centers townwide. Owner Jim MacDonald won unanimous 5-0 votes closing the hearing and approving the final decision, with Chair Paul Montesino, Vice Chair Anna Tesmenitsky and members Patricia Kendall, Deepa Venkat and Scott Pelletier all voting aye; MacDonald said he hopes to start construction "as soon as I get a permit." Pelletier said he now favors adding data centers as a flat "no" to the zoning use table rather than a moratorium, calling it "easier and cleaner," after Director of Planning and Economic Development Jasmin Farinacci relayed Town Counsel's advice that a moratorium could imply the use is otherwise allowed. A public hearing on that zoning change is expected in October, ahead of a Fall Town Meeting vote on November 10.
The board also approved its August 13 minutes 5-0-0 and adjourned 6-0-0 at 8:18 p.m.
In the full story:
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Source: the Planning Board meeting of August 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.
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