Ipswich boards launch downtown design standards initiative
Ipswich planning boards launch downtown design standards update. The Planning Board, Design Review Board, Historical Commission, and 3A/MBTA Task Force met jointly March 25 for a kick-off discussion on developing comprehensive design guidelines for downtown's 3A/MBTA District. Planning Director
Planning Board · Meeting of March 25, 2026
Ipswich planning boards launch downtown design standards update. The Planning Board, Design Review Board, Historical Commission, and 3A/MBTA Task Force met jointly March 25 for a kick-off discussion on developing comprehensive design guidelines for downtown's 3A/MBTA District. Planning Director Alan Manoian presented the 2021 Community Development Plan and reviewed form-based code approaches, with examples from Newburyport and Portland emphasizing walkable street patterns, ground-floor commercial uses, and underground utilities.
Assistant Town Planner Brianna Kelly reviewed current text-based design guidelines and proposed illustrated versions. The boards plan mobile workshops as next steps to align design standards in one comprehensive document.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 264 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of March 25, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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