PUBLIC HEARING

PZC-Proposed 3/20/06 Draft Revisions to the Mansfield Zoning Map

Mansfield Planning and Zoning Commission

The PZC will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, May 1, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, A.P. Beck Bldg., 4 S. Eagleville Rd. to hear comments on PZC-proposed 3/20/06 draft revisions to the Mansfield Zoning Map; fourteen (14) sections of the Zoning Regulations and eight (8) sections of the Subdivision Regulations.

Proposed Zoning Map revisions are:

1. Rezone all existing areas zoned Residence 40 (R-40) to a new Residence 90 (R-90) zone classification
2. Rezone all existing areas zoned Rural Agricultural Residence 40 (RAR-40) to Rural Agricultural Residence-90 (RAR-90) zone classification
3. Rezone all existing areas zoned Rural Agricultural Residence 40/Multi-Family (RAR-40/MF) to Rural Agricultural Residence-90 (RAR-90) zone classification

Proposed zoning regulation revisions include:

1. Revisions to Art. II and Art. VII to incorporate proposed zoning map revisions and to revise permitted use provisions to incorporate new sub-section lettering and other coordination changes needed in association with the proposed zoning map revisions.
2. Revisions to Article VIII.A (Schedule of Dimensional Requirements) to incorporate proposed zoning map revisions and to authorize the Commission to require the minimum acreage for new lots in the R-90 and RAR-90 zones to be reduced to less than 90,000 square feet in size.
3. Revisions to Article VIII, Section B.6 to increase the minimum lot area requirements for new lots to a contiguous area at least 40,000 square feet in size that does not include visible ledge, existing slopes exceeding fifteen percent, drainage easements, conservation easements or other easements that will limit or restrict on-site uses. This regulation also includes existing configuration requirements.
4. Creation of a new Article VIII, Section B.6.b. to incorporate provisions that authorize the Commission to require new subdivision lots in the R-90 and RAR-90 zones to be less than 90,000 square feet in size in order to implement "cluster development" provisions of Sections 8-18 and 8-25(c) of the CT General Statutes.
5. Revisions to Article X to establish 40,000 as the minimum lot size for new efficiency units and 90,000 square feet as the minimum lot size for conversions of certain existing single-family homes into two or three-family homes.

Proposed subdivision regulation revisions include:

1. Revisions to Sections 5.2, 6.5 and 6.10 to include more specific requirements for yield plans which are needed to determine the maximum number of subdivision lots that may be authorized in a new subdivision.
2. Revisions to Section 7.2 to provide more guidance in designing new subdivision plans.
3. Revisions to Section 7.4 to include more specific provisions for determining appropriate lot sizes and promoting cluster development as provided for in the State Statutes.
4. Revisions to Section 13 to authorize the Commission to require, for cluster developments, up to forty (40) percent of land being subdivided to be preserved as open space or park land to be used for recreation, conservation and/or agricultural purposes. Existing open space regulations address character of land requirements and criteria for determining appropriate locations for new dedications.

At this Hearing, interested persons may be heard and written communications received. No information from the applicants or the public shall be received after the close of the Public Hearing. Additional information, including the exact mapping of the proposed zoning map revisions and wording of the proposed zoning and subdivision regulations is available in the Mansfield Planning and Town Clerk's offices.