Planning Board approves backyard chicken permit
The Southbridge Planning Board approved a special permit for backyard chicken-keeping and continued two public hearings into November.
Planning Board · Meeting of October 7, 2026
SOUTHBRIDGE — The Southbridge Planning Board approved a special permit for backyard chicken-keeping and continued two public hearings into November. The board capped the new flock at six hens and barred roosters, finding the use "in harmony with the general purpose and intent" of the zoning bylaw after reviewing screening, waste-handling and traffic findings. A hearing on Westminster Street, item 4-16, was continued to November 4 at 6:45 p.m., and a separate matter involving an applicant identified as Kate Johnson was also pushed to November 4.
A university researcher pitched a student project to study data center zoning models from other communities to inform the board's multi-year moratorium deliberation, with one member noting, "we're going to be deliberating for a year." The board also worked through draft bylaw language on food trucks and outdoor storage without a final vote, and discussed a new Registry of Deeds process for recording approved special permits.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,276 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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