b'C H A P T E R E L E V E Nstarted in the fall of 2001 when the Planning Board formed focus groups to address Affordable Efousing, Cluster Development, Site Alteration, and Site Plan Review. Building on this preliminary work, the Planning Board wrote Bylaw language aimed toward presentation at Town Meeting. FCWs representatives helped review the language and commented on details of the proposed Site Alteration and Site Plan Review requirements amendments.As these changes took shape, they had these objectives: to keep as much as possible the natural grade and vegetation in the watershed to protect water quality and maintain existing drainage patterns; to protect habitat, natural resources and community character; and to produce regulations that included current Best Management Standards and Practices forIn debate and discussion,protection of natural resources during landRichard Batchelder has been one development and construction. However,of FCWs strongest voices ever since the organization first the Planning Board ran into difficulty inworked its way into port in 1983.arriving at consensus among its members, soPhoto bj Rob Carlislemany of these provisions could not go before Town Meeting 2003. FCW anticipates that the review of these issues will be ongoing, and it will continue being active in the public comment period, calling for measures to give strong protection to Chathams natural resources.These are dry, complex matters transparent mainly to specialists in the chess game of zoning. The larger point here reflects FCWs qualifications for bolstering Town skills to improve ground rules for guiding community growth. The Friends can serve its town in few more important ways.Steady As She GoesIts springtime again in Chatham -well, almost. As usual, the seasonal change is hesitant, but a few blossoms have shown their faces. And, as usual, on the second Monday of the month, the board of FCW is in session, this time at the home of Jim Blankenship on Linden Tree Lane.Directors are advised that the League of Women Voters will be holding a Candidates Night for those seeking election to the Board of Selectmen.FCW board members take turns framing questions to be directed to the five204'