P&Z Revises Rules on Special Permits, Commercial Signs

By Andrew Gorosko

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has revised some of its zoning rules on the “special exception” review process through which land use applicants seek to obtain “special permits” for their development projects.

Following discussion at an August 6 session, P&Z members agreed to certain revisions to those regulations to create “procedural clarity” on how such applications are reviewed, said George Benson, director of planning and land use.

Development applications falling under the special exception review process provide the P&Z with the most latitude in deciding on the specifics of a complex application, allowing it to set numerous conditions on a development approval to more strictly regulate the activity on a site.

P&Z members decided to revise the rules to clarify what information must be provided to the town when an applicant seeks to modify an existing special permit.

The rule changes authorize the zoning enforcement officer, the town engineer, or the P&Z chairman to approve a minor change to an existing special permit.

Such minor changes may involve design features such as the locations of stormwater catch basins and manholes; certain aspects of drainage control; slight changes in the locations of roads, structures, or buildings due to unforeseen topographical or geological features; slight changes in grading contours; and minor revisions to exterior lighting designs.

Questions about whether a proposed special permit revision is significant enough to require P&Z review would trigger an automatic P&Z review.

Also at the August 6 session, P&Z members revised certain regulations covering commercial signs.

The rule revisions concern retail stores displaying internally illuminated or neon signs bearing the word “OPEN,” temporary realty signs for residential zones, residential subdivisions, business zones, and industrial zones; and the maximum sizes of commercial signs.

The P&Z has commercial sign regulations to provide a coordinated design scheme for all of the signs on a given site: to establish visual consistency within land use zones, to visually explain site access, to preserve the town’s character, and to enhance property values.