Falmouth Planning Board Prepares For Town Planner Departure
Former town planner Brian A. Currie will act as a planning consultant for the town in the wake of Town Planner Thomas Bott’s resignation.
Meeting Tuesday, November 22, Mr. Bott updated the board on the development and discussed the upcoming transition.
Mr. Bott’s last day is December 4.
Mr. Bott outlined numerous priorities that both the planning department and board should keep in mind as the transition period begins, which includes formalizing the mixed-use residential and commercial overlay district, continuing work with the form-based code working group, and vetting applications to the planning board, with special attention being paid to applications from restaurants.
“We have a number of restaurants that are looking at continuing their outdoor seating or modifying their seating permanently,” Mr. Bott said. “So that is a priority for us—to make sure that we are able to help those folks and keep their restaurants open and maintained.”
The form-based code working group, which has been working to determine the best approach for implementing form-based code in Davis Straits, will continue its work into 2022. Mr. Bott said that they are also working to create a focus group that will feature both planning staff and consultants working hands-on with the management groups of the Falmouth Plaza properties to get the project rolling.
Other priorities highlighted include maintaining day-to-day operations and inquiries and focusing on completing projects started during Mr. Bott’s tenure, including Complete Streets and the Shivericks Pond Project, which is being done in conjunction with the Community Preservation Committee.
Mr. Bott also told the board that Mr. Currie will act as a part-time consultant for the planning department for about 20 hours per month. Otherwise the planning board and department will largely be in the hands of the assistant town planner, Jed Cornock.
“There are only so many things one guy can do, and to that extent, Jed is terrific,” Mr. Bott said. “He is the best hire we’ve had in the planning department for a very long time, including me. He has excellent skills in transportation and zoning and these larger, big-picture things. But the thing that he doesn’t have is that experience as a municipal planner.”
Mr. Bott explained that some of the more in-depth issues will take time to progress without a full planning staff and that Mr. Cornock will likely not be able to assume all of Mr. Bott’s responsibilities during this immediate transition period. Nonetheless, chairwoman Charlotte Harris said that she feels as though they are in good hands with Mr. Cornock. She and the rest of the board members then took a moment to express their sadness for Mr. Bott’s departure.
“Tom, I’m so sorry you’re going, and I’d like that to be on the record,” Ms. Harris said. “I think you’ve served the town well, you’ve certainly served the board well, and you’ve served me well. I was really a newcomer on the board when you can onboard and you’ve been very helpful to me and very kind in offering your coaching to me… I wish that this weren’t happening.”
Each of the board members thanked Mr. Bott for his service to the Town of Falmouth over the past three years and commended him for his progress on important issues, especially during the pandemic, as well as for his sense of humor, positive energy, and general expertise.
“Thank you,” Mr. Bott said. “But those things don’t happen without the staff. Without Michaela [Shoemaker], without Melinda [Tondera], we don’t get things done. I’m blessed for having an excellent staff who works very well together.”
“It’s been a good team,” Ms. Harris said. “It’s too bad to see it broken.”