Land Use Agencies Report On A Busy Year

By Andrew Gorosko

The 2000 town report for the fiscal year which ended last June 30 contains a wealth of statistics on local land use, detailing the activities of the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z), Zoning Board of Appeals, and Conservation Commission.

During the one-year period, the P&Z held 23 regular meetings and two special meetings at which it conducted 51 public hearings on various development applications.

The P&Z approved two new land use zones, creating the Hawleyville Center Design District-East zone, and creating a M-2A Planned Commercial Development zone, also in Hawleyville.

The agency also promulgated an expanded set of zoning regulations on wireless communications facilities.

P&Z members approved 13 special exceptions to the zoning regulations, four site development plans, and reviewed and commented on four proposals that were referred to it by other agencies.

The agency approved nine subdivisions of land, representing 124 building lots.

The Zoning Board of Appeals scheduled 58 public hearings on various applications.

The group approved 35 variances to the zoning regulations, of which 32 were residential variances, two were industrial, and one was commercial.

The appeals board turned down 11 requests for variances, of which 10 were residential and one was commercial.

The board also approved four certificates of location.

Appeals board members heard five cases alleging errors by the zoning enforcement officer. After those hearings, it upheld three of the officer’s decisions and overruled two of his decisions.

The Conservation Commission serves a dual purpose. As the Conservation Commission, it guides and regulates the development and conservation of local natural resources.

In its capacity as the town’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, the commission members review development applications for land in or near wetlands, floodplains, and watercourses.

In the fiscal year ending last June, the Conservation Commission handled 75 wetlands-related applications, concerning an area of almost 242 acres. The agency approved 58 applications and rejected 13 others. Four applications were still pending at the end of the fiscal year.

Agency members approved altering 3.99 acres of wetlands and creating 1.69 acres of wetlands. It allowed the alteration of 2,949 linear feet of streams.

 In yet another capacity, as the town’s forestry review agency, Conservation Commission members oversee the local use and rehabilitation of forested land. In the fiscal year ending last June, the agency approved all six forestry management applications it received.

 Copies of the 112-page fiscal 1999-2000 town report, which contains details on local land use agencies, plus many other municipal agencies, are available free at the town clerk’s office at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street.