As Dartmouth heads further into the 2020s, Planning Board member Steve Taylor said he wants to ensure its development is done right, which is why he is running for another term on the board in the upcoming town election.

“I just want Dartmouth to be a better town in 2050 than it is today,” he said.

Taylor, the current publisher and president of the nonprofit news startup New Bedford Light, was first elected to the board in 2019 to finish the remainder of the term of former Chair Joel Avila.

During his tenure, Taylor has been vocal about changing the role of the board — a mission he plans to continue if re-elected.

“I either could have gotten annoyed and quit, or I could run again and try to gain some traction,” he said. “I don’t give up easily and I want to hang in there.”

Currently, Taylor said, the board “acts more as a review committee for other people’s plans” rather than a board that makes plans. Along with looking over developers’ proposals, Taylor said he would like to see the Planning Board spend at least half of its meeting time writing the town’s Master Plan — a policy that lays out an optimal vision for Dartmouth’s future.

The incumbent would also like to have the board focus more on revitalizing current spaces along areas like Route 6 instead of expanding suburban development into green spaces.

“There’s acres of surface that can be redone in a better way,” Taylor said. “I’m enthusiastically in favor of redeveloping those areas — bulldozing green space is a really dumb idea.”

He noted that the town currently spends more on community services for these new developments than it takes in with tax revenue.

“It’s money that could pay for a lot of things here in town,” he said.

Ultimately, Taylor said he wants to ensure the town maintains its charm while preparing for the future.

“I’m just trying to make Dartmouth better,” he said. “It’s a beautiful town.”