Deerfield Voters Approve “Rural Character” Zoning Change, Reject Frontage Amendment

By CHRIS COLLINS

(Deerfield, MA) — Chain stores coming to the town of Deerfield will have to consider the town’s “rural character” when developing design plans. Annual town meeting voters Saturday passed the controversial zoning amendment following an extensive debate. Residents rejected a zone change which would have altered the town’s building frontage requirement for town-owned parcels of land.
In other votes taken Saturday,  “Columbus Day” will now be known as “Indigenous Peoples Day” in the town of Deerfield. Annual town meeting voters approved the change, and also voted to make June 19th an official paid holiday for Deerfield workers. The holiday commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States.