Dartmouth Planning Board Defers Action on $1.5 Million Farm Preservation Fund Agreement

Planning Board · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Dartmouth Planning Board defers vote on $1.5 million farm preservation fund structure, citing unresolved legal questions. Susan Murray, owner of Flying Carrot Farm and a member of the Dartmouth Agricultural Commission, appeared before the board July 13 to seek Planning Board participation in the newly formed Agricultural Preservation Fund Advisory Group, created to guide spending of $1.5 million in Community Preservation Act funds approved at town meeting for farmland protection. Board member Kevin Estes raised objections to signing a memorandum of understanding that would bind the Planning Board to a process in which the Agricultural Commission retains final decision-making authority by state law, saying "I quite frankly don't want my signature associated with any instrument whereby I have no ability to contribute to the decision-making process." The board also voted 4-0 to authorize Planning Director Daniel Gioiosa to approve departmental expenditures under $1,000 without full board approval, a step required after a town audit found the authorization had lapsed, and continued a pending special permit public hearing to August 10.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,802 words

Source: the Planning Board meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.