Planning Board OKs 32-unit project, housing bylaw revamp

Planning Board · Meeting of September 22, 2026

Ayer Planning Board unanimously recommends housing bylaw rewrite and data center moratorium to town meeting, clears 32-unit project. Consultant Katie Level's amendment to Section 10.3 would set affordability at 60 percent of area median income for a share of units, down from the current 80 percent default, citing Old Town Village's voluntary 58 percent AMI pricing as proof of concept. Affordable Housing Committee Chair Janet Pravidekis backed the change; resident Pauline pushed for a higher-than-10-percent affordable-unit requirement, saying "people cannot afford to live here anymore." The board also recommended a data center moratorium extended to May 1, 2028 at the Select Board's request, after Chair Jonathan Kranz successfully argued to strip "editorializing" language from the zoning definition.

Separately, the board approved site plan, special permit, inclusionary housing, and stormwater permits, all 5-0, for a 32-unit building with three affordable units at 26 and 30 Littleton Road on 7.46 acres. Town meeting is October 26.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of September 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.