The Brentwood Town Planning Board spent the bulk of its meeting reviewing a draft package of land-use changes that would expand where multifamily housing and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are allowed and add incentives for workforce housing.

Board members and staff said state housing laws are driving some of the changes and that the board has tried to narrow where denser development would be permitted. Planning staff walked the board through revisions that would make the former Multifamily/Commercial/Industrial zoning along Route 125 a unified Commercial District, remove multifamily from North Road and keep the Town Center District unchanged for now.

Board members described a proposed residential density of six housing units per acre in the Commercial District, with an allowance of up to eight units per acre where developers include deed-restricted workforce units. The draft also tightens building setbacks along 125 to 100 feet and includes detailed approaches for garden‑style apartment buildings (the packet noted a proposal of a 24‑unit maximum for a single garden‑style building as an example).

Planning staff raised a design tradeoff the board discussed at length: most new multifamily construction in the region is three stories; the board debated whether to allow a third story (and increase a height limit from 35 feet toward 45 feet) as an incentive for workforce units so projects can reach the density sought without expanding their footprint. Several members said permitting a third story only as an incentive tied to workforce units could be a middle ground.

Accessory dwelling units were another focus. The board discussed minimum and maximum ADU sizes and how state law limits what the town can require. Members flagged a phrase in the draft that sought to "retain neighborhood character and single‑family appearance"; some supported keeping that as a statement of intent in the ordinance preamble, while counsel and staff recommended striking or softening it to avoid legal vulnerability under the state statute.

Several members emphasized the need for visuals, examples and outreach. Staff said it would prepare an overview sheet and updated plan set showing how a prototypical property could accommodate the new rules; the board agreed to produce outreach materials, hold office hours for residents and schedule public hearings in advance of town meeting so voters can review the proposed warrant articles.

Public-safety and traffic considerations along Route 125 also entered the discussion. A resident, Nate Swayze of Old Gordon Road, told the board he is concerned about left‑turn safety on the 55 mph corridor and said he fears adding additional turning movements without supplemental road improvements; board members noted New Hampshire Department of Transportation has listed sections of Route 125 among corridors slated for additional study and said residents can comment at the governor’s advisory hearings on the state’s 10‑year transportation plan.

Board members repeatedly noted that while the proposals aim to comply with state housing laws, the package represents the board’s attempt to limit impacts by concentrating density in a limited commercial corridor and by offering design and workforce‑unit incentives rather than mandate broad changes across the residential agricultural district.

The board and staff said they will continue refining language — including definitions, ADU size rules and height/density tradeoffs — and schedule public hearings and outreach before finalizing warrant articles for voters.