Goshen Planning & Zoning Commission
5/4/26 Special Meeting 6 PM
PRESENT: Chair- Jon Carroll, Lu-Ann Zbinden, Shilo Garceau, Patrick Lucas (Z), Jared Denis, Dustin
Mosley (A), Jerrold Abrahams (A).
Goshen's Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a community input survey and finalized plans for a May 9 public forum, two of the milestones needed before the town can complete its updated Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).
The special meeting opened at 6:01 p.m. with Vice Chair Lu-Ann Zbinden presiding in Chairman Jon Carroll's absence. Alternate Dustin Mosley was seated in Carroll's place. Carroll arrived approximately 20 minutes later.
The 12-question survey covers environment and resilience, open space, housing, and the Center Business Zone. It was to be available online and as a paper copy at Town Hall; completed paper forms were to be dropped off at the land use office. The survey closed at 11:59 p.m. May 23.
Commissioners reviewed the survey question by question, approving several amendments.
The commission addressed Goshen's open space plan. As of 2015, about 17% of Goshen's land was permanently protected as open space.
Zbinden said the 2025 plan "sets a goal to increase this percentage to 21%," which was noted is in accordance with state recommendations. She asked for inclusion of the notation in the survey to give it "more definition."
Next the commission discussed funding the Agricultural Land Preservation Fund, Title 45, supporting the Goshen Land Trust and other conservation organizations.
Zbinden said: "Funding the agricultural land preservation fund Title 45 I think it's been on the books for a long time, but I don't think it's actually been funded."
Number four on the survey addressed concerns about potential hazards affecting Goshen in the next decade, including "more frequent or severe storms and prolonged power outages, flooding at lake watersheds and low-lying areas, wildfire risk and forested areas, impacts of climate change on drinking water supplies and aquifers, strain on volunteer-based emergency services."
There was some discussion about including climate change language.
Lucas suggested adding a box "that says something to the effect of increasing resiliency to deal with potential future climate change or resilience."
Chair was seated.
Commission resumed discussion on question four.
Zbinden said: "I just raised the question as a hazard, increasing temperatures, but it does have an effect on climate change. Increasing temperatures, it does affect people, animals, and one of the mitigating factors is protecting the forest area here, that is really keeping the temperatures a little lower than they would be if we didn't have a lot of forested area."
Carroll said: "I like Patrick's verbiage, because climate change can be interpreted in a lot of different ways beyond just temperature association."
Another discussion point was over a question asking about satisfaction level with the current state of availability of senior housing.
Lucas added: "People can always comment on the last open-ended questions about whether they think it should be town funded, affordable, or state, or however they can always expound on that."
With the survey approved, the May 9 public forum was scheduled for 9 a.m.
05/09/26 9 am Special Meeting & Public Forum on POCD
PRESENT: Jon Carroll, Lu-Ann Zbinden, Shilo Garceau, Patrick Lucas, and Jared Denis. (Z=Zoom A=Alternate) EXCUSED: Dustin Mosley (A), Jerrold Abrahams (A,) and Chris Hurlburt (A)
The public forum was organized by the Planning & Zoning Commission as an opportunity for community members to offer comments for the Commission’s consideration, as they complete their work on a revised Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD).
Resident Ron Zander asked whether there was a draft of the plan available for review. Chair Carroll stated that there is no draft and the purpose of the forum is to hear residents’ thoughts and what they would like to see. When the draft is complete there will be a public hearing. Also, the forum was not intended to be a question-and-answer session, but rather a time for the townspeople to speak about the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD).
Janet Hooper had similar questions, stating that there was nothing to go from other than the 2016 POCD, and citing lack of communication as a challenge to be improved upon.
Dawn Wilkes expressed disappointment that the only discussions had been with Town Commissions or committees. She remembered the 2016 POCD drafting effort and how the community was more involved. She said it included everyone that wanted to participate and meetings were well publicized.
Mike Esposito, a member of the Goshen Affordable Housing Plan Committee, shared some insights, including that approximately 60% of Goshen is committed to the State, Water Companies, and other organizations, which does not leave much room for development. Soil conditions are also not conducive to building. He suggested that development will have to be secondary to conservation.
Dan Dilworth talked about the invasive Hydrilla species, which endangers Goshen’s lakes, and the potential impact on property values.
Elizabeth Zander addressed the spreading of invasive species by birds.
Bryan Beausoleil asked questions about the State’s statutory requirements for affordable housing.
Other topics discussed included zoning changes and their potential impact on adjacent properties.
The Planning & Zoning Commission, as of the time of this writing, has not yet circulated a draft of the proposed 2026 POCD.
