Deerfield Planning Board Endorses South Main Street Lot Split, Reviews Housing Study

DEERFIELD -- March 2, 2026, Deerfield Planning Board endorses South Main Street lot split and receives housing study update from Conway School graduate students. The board voted 5-0 to endorse an Approval Not Required plan splitting a single lot at 27 South Main Street into two parcels, one with an existing house and one a buildable lot, for owners Garly Peters and Nancy Lashway. The bulk of the March 2 meeting was a presentation by Conway School of Landscape Design students James, Celine, and Anika, who showed spatial analyses of zoning tools including frontage reduction, minimum lot size changes, and expanded duplex permissions, framing their work around the town's application for the state Rural and Small Town Housing Community of Choice designation. Chair Denise Mason described herself as "an incrementalist" who is "pushing more toward the opportunity to build duplexes," while Vice Chair Emily Gaylord noted that allowing housing diversity "is going to be the tension point." Planning and Economic Development Coordinator Alexandria Galloway said the town barely met the nine-criteria minimum for the state designation and the outcome remains uncertain; she also said FRCOG has limited technical assistance funds this year but that a Community One-Stop application, with a window opening around May, could fund a Housing Production Plan update. The board confirmed it is too late for spring Town Meeting bylaw changes and is targeting fall Town Meeting for ADU amendments.