DUMMERSTON — Residents are invited to two public hearings to weigh in on proposed changes in the zoning bylaw and district map, the first such overhaul since zoning was established here in 1971.
According to Planning Commission Chairman Sam Farwell, the changes will help guide development here in keeping with Vermont smart growth principles, and conform to what the Selectboard approved in Dummerston's Town Plan and Town Plan Map updates of 2010.
Two initial forums on the matter are set: Tuesday, April 22, at the Dummerston Community Center, and Tuesday, May 6, in the Dummerston Congregational Church basement. Both sessions start at 7 p.m.
The town's zoning bylaws and zoning district maps will be reviewed at these initial meetings and are available for download at www.dummerston.org.
Final say on the matter is up to the Selectboard, which will schedule its own hearings after the Planning Commission submits its final proposal.
According to material supplied to The Commons by Planning Board Chairman Sam Farwell, who is urging a large turnout and active engagement at these hearings, proposed changes are as follows:
• Article II: Zoning Districts and Map. Sections 205 to 240 are almost all new, and include descriptions, uses, and requirements. Districts are changed to be compatible with the Town Plan land use chapter.
“We've changed the zoning map considerably,” Farwell wrote. He spoke with The Commons for our advance on the hearings last week, focusing primarily on Article II. [“Town to consider major update to zoning districts, bylaws,” April 9, 2014.]
• Article III: Riparian areas (Resource areas). Planners recommend changing the terms “Resource Area” and “Shoreland Area” both to “Riparian Area.” There is no change proposed in regulations.
• Article VI: General regulations. Planners advise updating statutory regulations of Residential Care Home in Sec. 603 and increasing the size of one type of sign in Sec. 669.
• Article VII: Administration and Enforcement. There are changes proposed in Sec. 701 adding language clarifying subdivision as land development, with no change in regulation; Sec. 705 to remove certificate of occupancy as this has never been enforced; and in Sec. 724 to add one to two parcel subdivision to the list of developments that may receive a permit without DRB review.
• Article VIII contains many new definitions, some name changes, and some deletions.
According to Farwell's summary, no changes are proposed for Articles I, IV (Flood Hazard Area Regulations), or V (Planned Unit Development).
The Planning Commission's members are Farwell, Annamarie Pluhar, Andrew MacFarland, Bev Tier, Cindy Wilcox, Rich Cogliano, Deb Forett, and Maria Glabach.
The commission's next regular meeting is Tuesday, May 27, at 6:30 p.m., at the Town Office.