CommitteePlymouth

Earth Removal Bylaw Committee

Track committee activity, current roster, and published meeting coverage for Earth Removal Bylaw Committee in Plymouth.

0 active membersNext meeting Aug 13, 2026Last meeting Jul 29, 202619 summaries in 30d

Summaries

Active roster

Latest activity

Aug 12, 2026

Municipality

Plymouth

Latest coverage

Committee Begins Earth Removal Bylaw Review

Published Aug 12, 2026

Related summaries

Published meeting coverage connected to Earth Removal Bylaw Committee.

Briefing

Jun 30, 2026

Natural Features Bylaw Draft Advances

The subcommittee agreed to move key definitions into the earth removal bylaw and complete a draft annotated outline for proposed revisions to §203-2-B by noon on July 2 for review by the full committee.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 25, 2026

Committee Advances Earth Removal Bylaw Draft

The committee completed its line-by-line review of the working outline, reducing it from 468 lines to 364, and formed a subcommittee to reconcile it with the existing Zoning Bylaw and produce a draft.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 23, 2026

Earth Removal Bylaw Draft Advances

The subcommittee assigned work on slope requirements, tree preservation, vegetation retention, and erosion and sedimentation controls to complete a draft annotated outline for discussion on June 30 and presentation to the full committee on July 2.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 11, 2026

Earth Removal Bylaw Review Continues

The committee agreed to maintain the five-acre limit for open excavations while continuing line-by-line revisions to the proposed Earth Removal Bylaw.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 9, 2026

Subcommittee Advances Earth Bylaw Review

The subcommittee assigned members to develop proposed requirements for slopes, tree preservation, vegetation retention, and erosion and sedimentation control as it reviews changes to the Earth Removal Bylaw.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jun 4, 2026

Committee advances earth removal bylaw review

The consultant selection process moved forward: requests for qualifications were sent to nine companies, with responses due June 17 and a signed contract targeted by July 15. The committee also heard that the 71 Hedges Pond Road project is currently in compliance and has excavated about 90,000 of an estimated 180,000 cubic yards.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 26, 2026

Natural features bylaw revisions take shape

The subcommittee reached consensus on proposed changes to the definition of “Earth Removal” and agreed that revisions to vegetation, slope, and groundwater protections must be coordinated across the bylaw. Members assigned follow-up work, including reviewing the 100-foot buffer question at 71 Hedges Pond Road.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 21, 2026

Committee Flags Excavation Bylaw Gap

The committee unanimously voted to ask Inspectional Services why approximately 30 acres remain exposed at 71 Hedges Pond Road, despite the current zoning bylaw generally prohibiting exposed excavations larger than five acres. The committee noted the five-acre restriction does not apply because the project was not approved under a Special Permit.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 7, 2026

Earth Removal Bylaw Review Continues

The committee began a group review of a 492-line draft bylaw outline containing 233 member comments and will continue the line-by-line review at its next meeting.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 16, 2026

Earth removal rules move toward public review

The committee unanimously voted to forward a draft consultant Request for Qualifications to the Director of Planning & Development for review. A draft replacement for the existing Earth Removal bylaw was also completed and will be distributed for committee review on May 7.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 15, 2026

Earth Removal Bylaw Revision Moves Forward

The subcommittee set December 2026 as the project completion target so proposed Earth Removal and Gravel Removal bylaw amendments can be ready for the Spring 2027 Town Meeting warrant. It prioritized finalizing the consultant Scope of Services before updating the Request for Qualifications.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 7, 2026

Natural features bylaw revisions remain under review

The subcommittee refined proposed changes to natural-features requirements, adding criteria related to area thresholds, slopes, setbacks, buffers, dust, revegetation, stormwater, and permitting. Members also determined that existing wellhead protection language in §205-57 appeared sufficient and that adding similar language to §203-2(B) would be duplicative.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 2, 2026

Committee Advances Earth Removal Bylaw Review

The committee set draft-bylaw deadlines and unanimously approved keeping all definitions together in a dedicated section. Initial drafts are due April 8, a combined draft is due to the full committee April 16, and a communication plan is due May 7.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 19, 2026

Earth Removal Bylaw Revisions Stay in Zoning Bylaw

The committee unanimously voted to keep proposed earth removal bylaw revisions within Plymouth’s Zoning Bylaw rather than create a separate General Bylaw. The Building Commissioner also said the department will immediately require a Special Permit and stop using the General Permit process.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Mar 5, 2026

Committee reviews possible earth removal overhaul

The committee discussed replacing Plymouth’s current earth removal bylaw with a new bylaw and potentially creating a dedicated committee to administer it; no final bylaw change was approved.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 19, 2026

Committee Advances Earth Removal Bylaw Roadmap

The committee agreed to develop a roadmap for a new earth removal bylaw, organized around agriculture, non-agricultural development, and solar projects. Members will review three town bylaw summaries each and identify regulatory tools by March 2, while the committee refines a consultant scope of services.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 5, 2026

Committee Advances Earth Removal Oversight

The committee unanimously approved sending a letter to Inspectional Services regarding earth removal projects exceeding 10,000 cubic yards. Members also planned an audit of active projects, continued research into stronger bylaw requirements, and refinement of a consultant proposal to fit the town’s $75,000 budget.

2 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jan 29, 2026

Plymouth Earth Removal Review Advances

The committee formed three subcommittees to compare bylaws, research legal precedents, and review Plymouth’s existing earth-removal rules, with tentative deliverables due by the end of March.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Jan 15, 2026

Committee Begins Earth Removal Bylaw Review

The newly formed committee will develop a draft earth removal bylaw for the Planning Board, which could later bring an article to Town Meeting. Members unanimously elected Michelle Christensen as Chair, Love Albrecht Howard as Vice Chair, and Allen Hemberger as Clerk.

1 min readMunicipal coverage