Plymouth Considers Land Bank to Control Growth, Debates Charter Changes

Town Meeting Weighs Real Estate Fee and Government Structure Revisions

PLYMOUTH, MA - October 19 - Plymouth's Representative Town Meeting debated establishing a land bank and extensive charter revisions on Saturday, grappling with proposals aimed at controlling development and modernizing local government.

The proposed Plymouth Land Bank would be funded by a 2% real estate transfer fee paid by property buyers. Supporters argue it would give the town more control over growth and land use. The change requires action from the State Legislature to enact.

"We are the fastest-growing community in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are adding between 750 and 1,000 people per year to this community," said Kevin Canty, Vice Chair of the Select Board. "The more people that we're getting in the aggregate, the more demand on our services that we're seeing."

Canty said the land bank could acquire parcels for open space, affordable housing and municipal facilities like schools and fire stations. The fee would only apply to new residents, not existing homeowners moving within Plymouth.

Critics raised concerns about impacts on housing affordability and oversight of the proposed land bank commission. Town Meeting member Mark Pulsinelli said he worried the commission "could be used to take property off of the town and put into, now we need to have open space, but I'm very concerned a land bank could put all land into open space and make it so developers can't come in and build affordable housing."

The land bank proposal resulted in a 71-71 tie, with Town Moderator F. Steven Triffletti breaking the tie in favor of the land bank. If approved by the state legislature, it would go before Plymouth voters for final approval.

Town meeting also considered wide-ranging changes to Plymouth's charter proposed by a review committee. The amendments aimed to clarify and modernize the document but sparked debate over government structure and powers.

"We wanted clarity, and we wanted to build in flexibility," said Alan Costello, chair of the Charter Review Committee. "And at the end of the 15 months, I feel very comfortable we did that."

Major proposed changes included reorganizing charter sections, revising recall procedures and adjusting how various committees are appointed and operate.

Some town meeting members expressed confusion over the complex set of amendments. "I think we should have a charter review every three years, no matter what," said Wrestling Brewster of Precinct 15. "But you talk about democracy, if a commission, or committee, sorry, if a committee comes to a conclusion through democracy, they take a vote on every single thing that they put forth, that's democracy."

Others worried about concentrating too much power in the executive branch. Joseph Hutchinson of Precinct 17 said the proposal "disrupts the balance of power by removing the executive branch and its hierarchical organization."

Town Clerk Kelly McElreath clarified that some proposed changes, like allowing Vice Chairs to vote on the Committee of Precinct Chairs, would conflict with the current charter language.

After hours of debate, Town Meeting rejected the initial proposal to reformat the entire charter. Members then considered individual amendments article by article, approving some changes while rejecting others.

The meeting adjourned after 5 p.m., with members voting to dissolve rather than continue to a second session. The Moderator thanked attendees for their work on the complex issues.

"You started at 8 o'clock, you went past 5 o'clock. You're all to be congratulated for your hard work," Triffletti said. "I know that everyone who worked to prepare for town meeting appreciates your support."