Auburn Planning Board Continues Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw Review, Seeks Amended Draft

AUBURN — June 23, 2026 — Auburn Planning Board continues inclusionary zoning bylaw review, targeting October town meeting. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to carry the proposed bylaw to its July 14 meeting after members identified three drafting gaps that require correction before a final recommendation can be made. Assistant Town Manager Paul Dell'Aquila, who shepherded the bylaw through the zoning bylaw review committee over several months, told the board the 15 percent affordable set-aside requirement would apply to all developments of 10 or more units, potentially yielding two affordable units for every 10-unit project based on the Metro Worcester area median income of roughly $130,000 for a family of four. Chair Jason Asirifi flagged the core vulnerability plainly: "My biggest concern personally is getting to the point where if we start seeing a bunch of nine-unit developments — they're technically playing by the rules, but they're circumventing the rules." The board agreed to add an anti-segmentation clause, retitle a construction-phasing chart column, and strike a site-plan-effective-date provision flagged by Town Planner Rose Russell as a potential conflict with standard zoning appeal timelines. The Select Board reviews warrant articles August 17, leaving July 14 as the last viable meeting for board action.