MINUTES

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION REGULATORY REVIEW COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 24, 2009,

Council Chambers, Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building

 

Members present:     B. Gardner (Chairman), R. Favretti, R. Hall, K. Holt, L. Lombard, M. Beal,

Others present:          G. Padick, Director of Planning;

 

I.                    Call to Order

            The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gardner at 1:05 p.m.

II.                  Minutes
2-10-09 -
Favretti MOVED, Lombard seconded, to approve the 2/10/09 minutes as written.  MOTION CARRIED with all in favor except Hall who disqualified himself.

III.                Consideration of potential revisions to the Zoning Regulations/Zoning Map

 

a.      Draft Agricultural Regulations
No discussion:  Awaiting comments from the Agriculture Committee.

b.     Review of Existing and Potential Definition of Family
Committee members discussed with Padick a variety of issues associated with occupancy, the current definition of family and potential recommendations from the Community Quality of Life Committee and Town Attorney.  It was acknowledged that the current definition of family needs to be updated.

c.      Verbal update/Discussion-Pleasant Valley Industrial Park Re-Zoning
Padick related that on 3/20/09, he and Chairman Favretti had met with B. Hussey and his Attorney K. Olson to discuss the potential rezoning of land currently zoned Industrial Park.  Based on discussion at this meeting, Padick related the following to Committee members:

·        Mr. Hussey does not have any current development plans.

·        Mr. Hussey does not consider Research and Development uses and other commercial uses viable in the foreseeable future.

·        Clustered multi-family housing development is considered by Mr. Hussey the most appropriate land use.

·        Mr. Hussey has a personal interest in the repair of farm equipment/machinery, trucks and automobiles but he does not anticipate this as a primary use.

·        Mr. Hussey is not interested in allowing contractors storage oriented uses.

·        Subject to clarification of open space provisions and locational and phasing aspects of agricultural preservation, Mr. Hussey has no major objections to the agricultural preservation provisions contained in the Pleasant Valley Residence/Agriculture Zone.

 

Committee members agreed that this rezoning issue needs to be discussed by the entire PZC and if there is a general agreement on a potential rezoning and associated permitted uses, the Committee could work with Padick to prepare a draft revision. Padick agreed to study the site characteristics of the current Industrial Zone land and provide an estimate of the number of housing units that might be constructed under current PVRA zone provisions. 

d.     Discussion- Contractor Vehicle, Equipment and Material Storage
Padick related that he has discussed with Zoning Agent Hirsch the current lack of zoning authority for low intensity contractor’s vehicle, equipment and material storage and, that with appropriate restrictions, staff felt that this use could be authorized as a home occupation.  After discussion, Committee members agreed to consider this approach and asked Padick to prepare a draft regulation for Committee review.


e.      Review of Other Potential Revisions

1.      2/10/09 drafts Re: Conversions, Efficiency Units, Mobile Homes, Zoning Permits/Certificates of Compliance
Members reviewed 2/10/09 drafts that were distributed at the last meeting.  A revision to the draft regarding efficiency units was agreed upon.  All of the other drafts were supported as written.

2.      3/24/09 drafts Re:  Definition of lot, Live Music Permits, Common Driveways, Wind Turbines, Satellite Dish Antennas, Public Water Supply Requirements
Padick distributed 3/24/09 draft revisions for each of the listed issues.  After suggesting a few wording revisions, members agreed to further review the subject drafts for consideration at the next meeting. 

3.      Other
Padick distributed a 3/24/09 draft revision regarding subdivision yield plans.  He noted that the current regulations that require a judgement that a yield plan was likely to be approved by the Inland Wetland Agency (IWA) are considered problematic, particularly when a proposed plan would impact less wetland area than a yield plan. He requested that the Committee review the draft revisions for further discussion at the next meeting. 

IV.               Future Meetings

After discussion, it was tentatively agreed to set the next meeting date as 4/13/09.  Staff was asked to confirm planned attendance.

 

V.                 Adjournment

 

The meeting was adjourned at 3:09 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,



K. Holt, Secretary