By Dot Bergin
Glenn Garber announced at the May 10 Planning Board meeting that he will resign on June 17.
Garber has served as Bedford’s Planning Director since July 2011. During the five years he has been on the job, the Planning Board, with his professional guidance, has grappled with an unusually high level of activity in industrial, commercial, and residential development. And as Garber pointed out earlier this year, the Planning Board held more meetings than any other town board in 2015 – and that included the Selectmen.
The number of residential development projects alone coming before the Board demands a heavy commitment of time and energy from Planning Staff as well as Board members. Industrial rezoning and the project to hire a consultant to conduct an 18-month, detailed analysis of business zoning along the Great Road, as approved at the annual town meeting, are also heavy draws on staff and board time.
Planning Board Chair Jeff Cohen and Board members joined in expressing their appreciation to Garber for his work with the Board and wished him well in the future.
A search will begin immediately to find a new Planning Director; the position has been posted on the Town’s website and will be advertised in professional industry publications. The Board hopes that a new Director can be in place by September 1. In the meantime, they discussed how best they might proceed during the summer months, taking a realistic view of how much could be accomplished with reduced staffing. On a positive note, money has been appropriated to hire a part time recording secretary for the Board.
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