The Zoning Advisory Committee will hold its annual public forum next Monday, March 11, at 7 p.m. remotely via Zoom.

This forum is is an opportunity for residents to contribute ideas and proposals for amendments to the zoning bylaws, whether they are changes to regulations currently in place or entirely new ones. They can relate to changes to the land uses permitted in specific areas in Hopkinton, the manner in which certain uses are permitted, dimensional requirements, or other ideas with respect to land use regulation.

ZAC is a nine-member board appointed by the Planning Board consisting of representatives from the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Appeals, as well as at-large positions. It typically meets one or two times a month, usually on Monday evenings. Its purpose is to review and develop proposals for zoning bylaw and zoning map amendments and to make recommendations to the Planning Board. Zoning bylaws generally regulate the use of land, buildings and structures.

Most recently, ZAC has spent several months crafting a proposal that would allow Hopkinton to comply with the MBTA Communities Act. The state act was designed to zone areas near MBTA stops to allow the development of multifamily housing by right to encourage more housing. While the zoning for multifamily housing needs to be in place for cities and towns to comply with the law, it does not compel that the housing be built.

For more information and the Zoom link, contact Principal Planner John Gelcich at jgelcich@hopkintonma.gov or call him at 508-497-9745.