Auburn panel preps strategic plan after Town Meeting OK

Other Committee · Meeting of October 28, 2026

AUBURN — The Auburn Economic Development Committee reviewed Town Meeting's approval of $75,000 to update the town's economic development strategic plan. Director of Economic Development Paul told the committee the funding passed despite floor debate over whether in-house staff could handle the work, on a vote one member cited as 43-39. Town Meeting also passed an inclusionary zoning bylaw requiring 15 percent affordable units in projects of 10 or more units, raised building height limits in the mall overlay district, and approved a three-year data center moratorium, up from a proposed one year, which the director said faces uncertain state attorney general review.

The town separately secured a $390,000 state grant for a roughly 1.6-mile shared use path from the Oxford line to Auburn Middle School. A member said she wanted to make sure "the integrity of what we're trying to accomplish is protected," given the narrow funding vote. The Select Board's tax classification hearing is set for November 9.

The committee approved its September 21 minutes unanimously and set its next meeting for November 19.

In the full story:

• Town Meeting Recap and Strategic Plan Funding
• Town Meeting Zoning Actions
• Tax Classification Recommendations
• Shared Use Path Grant
• Economic Development Coordinator Position and Small Business Outreach
• Holiday Events and Tree Decorating Participation
• Chamber of Commerce Coordination
• Pending Project Communication and Transparency
• Approval of Minutes and Scheduling
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,831 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of October 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.