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The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is continuing discussions about a business use zoning bylaw that would regulate firearms businesses in Sudbury. (2:02:30)
The new bylaw draft was developed by what the ZBA described as an ad-hoc committee of residents, as well as ZBA member Frank Riepe. Sudbury Weekly covered the new approach and draft bylaw back in July.
During their discussion on September 9, members of the ZBA asked questions about the draft and provided some feedback, but the broad strokes of the bylaw don’t appear to have changed significantly since July. They’re contemplating how the bylaw might address firearms manufacturing as a business use, and some adjustments are expected in a future draft.
Members did point out that the location where the bylaw would allow a gun shop on Route 20 was still relatively close to other businesses that serve children and families, which were also a point of concern for some opponents to the Select Board’s unsuccessful bylaw at the May 2024 Annual Town Meeting. Member Frank Riepe pointed to the nature of the land where a firearms business would be allowed to operate under the bylaw. He felt is was sufficiently set back and isolated from the street and other businesses. They also discussed signage, as a sign for a business could technically be in Wayland and subject to Wayland’s regulations, not Sudbury’s.
The ad-hoc committee, represented by former Select Board member Len Simon during the meeting, is expected to continue iterating on the bylaw, but eventually wants the ZBA to take it up as their own article for Town Meeting. The ZBA Chair, John Riordan, indicated that he would like to hold a public hearing for public input on the bylaw at some point. Articles are typically due at the end of January, so developments on this bylaw could pick up quickly this fall.