Hearing on building moratorium slated for Wednesday in Amherst Amherst Town Hall GAZETTE FILE PHOTO Published: 5/17/2021 11:38:19 AM AMHERST — A six-month prohibition on issuing building permits for projects containing at least three dwelling units will be discussed at a joint public hearing by the Planning Board and Community Resources Committee this week. On Wednesday at 8 p.m., the panels will hold a virtual hearing on the moratorium being sought via a petition that has more than 830 signatures. In an email, Elizabeth Vierling of Cottage Street said the goal of the petition, which shows discontent with the continued development of five-story, mixed-use buildings downtown, is not to block business development but to take time to consider how Amherst is developed and whether guidelines set in the town’s master plan are being followed.