Berlin Planning Board Unanimously Backs State Grant Bid for Village Center Study

BERLIN — May 26, 2026 — Berlin Planning Board unanimously backs state grant application for a village center cultural and economic development study. The board voted 4-0 Tuesday to authorize Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission to submit an application to the state Community One Stop for Growth program — deadline June 3 — pledging up to $5,000 in master plan funds and 12 hours of Local Planning Assistance time as match. Dominique Dutremble, CMRPC's Director of Community and Regional Planning, outlined a nine-to-twelve-month scope covering reuse scenarios for the 1870 Town Hall, infrastructure assessment, streetscape planning, and community engagement, with the shuttered general store and Bullard House also named as study elements. Member Jay Teach pressed for a study that delivers "one or two, three specific things to be done that actually would get implemented" rather than a shelf-bound wish list. In a separate update, CMRPC planner Ron Baron reported that the parallel zoning bylaw rewrite has been extended through September, with subdivision regulations and a Low Impact Development bylaw draft due for board review in June.