The Milton Planning Board navigated its first session without long-time member Jim Davis on May 14, prioritizing the rollout of $450,000 in state grant funding for the Mechanic and Franklin Street corridor. The funding, awarded through the Economic Opportunity Development (EOD) program, is earmarked for addressing longstanding congestion and safety concerns that have been a focal point of recent resident walk audits and traffic studies.

Chair Meredith Hall called the meeting to order, introducing a board that currently consists of four members following Davis’s April retirement. Good evening and welcome to the 20th meeting of fiscal year 2026, Hall stated. Joining Hall were members Cheryl Tougias and Sean Fahy, with Margaret Oldfield attending via Zoom. Planning Director Liz Manning and Assistant Director Avanti Grady also participated, providing technical updates on the town’s multi-year planning initiatives.

A significant portion of the session centered on the town's fiscal and zoning health as the board manages its $90,000 budget for FY27. The board is in the early stages of a $44,200 zoning recodification contract with KP Law. Member Sean Fahy has remained a vocal advocate for a phased approach to this contract, ensuring the Building Commissioner is central to the initial audit and diagnostic stages before the town commits to the final drafting phases. Hall emphasized the board’s commitment to professionalism during this transition, previously noting the importance of board reputation, civility, and acting as role models for the community.

The board also addressed the status of the Housing Production Plan (HPP) and the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). Member Margaret Oldfield renewed her calls for administrative efficiency, having previously labeled the creation of new advisory committees for the housing plan as a potential hurdle and citing the 90 committees in town as a cause for potential delay. Oldfield also reiterated the importance of including American Sign Language (ASL) in the town's ADA self-evaluation and transition plans to ensure inclusive community outreach during the planning stages.

As Milton moves toward its next phase of development, the board continues to coordinate with the Library Trustees and the Select Board regarding the Canton Avenue mixed-use RFP. While the Select Board issued the RFP in mid-April, Planning Board members expressed a desire for more formal inter-board collaboration to ensure their technical memos are prioritized in the review process. The board is also promoting community engagement for the OSRP, including a scheduled pop-up event at the local food pantry on May 16 to gather resident feedback on town-owned land usage.