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Planning Commission Meeting
1. Approve minutes 2. Proposed zoning amendments, by request: Commercial - 3 District (Elm Street): consider increase in residential density, continued discussion 3. Other Business
Present: Chair John Ringwood, Craig Hunter, Chris Glabach, Bill Drunsic, Steve Grossfeld, Megan LaValley; Clare Kelley, Tristan Poplar; also Planning Director Lee Krohn, and others per sign-in sheet. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. Motion Drunsic, seconded by Glabach, to approve the minutes of 1/4/10; OK unanimously. C-3 District, continued discussion: following up on the last meeting, the district as a whole was reviewed for current land uses and conformance. What exists is a true mixed use neighborhood, with homes, apartment buildings, professional, and commercial uses. Many properties do conform with regard to zoning density; some are existing non-conforming. All shared the desire to facilitate provision of small, affordable apartments in the core. However, the clear consensus was that changing the density allowance here, already the least restrictive in Town at one dwelling unit or principal building per 5000 sq of land area (8 units per acre), would likely create problems in this neighborhood.
Further, changing the rules to make the Campbell property conform (at 4 units on 1/4 acre) would require doubling the allowable density to 16 units per acre, which no one thought reasonable. Nor was it believed that given existing buildings and lot sizes that making a lesser increase in density would result in any practical outcomes not already reasonably achievable. There was also the concern of changing the rules for everyone, or for a whole district, just to solve one landowner’s issue - especially one that is self-created and beyond the bounds of existing rules and permits on the property. The Board agreed unanimously to keep the C-3 bylaw "as is", and to make no changes. The prospect of seeking DRB approval for expansion of a nonconforming use within the existing structures was discussed. Campbell’s representative, realtor Will Hersom, thanked the PC for its thorough consideration of the issues. Other Business Upcoming meeting schedule, and other informational items were discussed.
The meeting was then adjourned at 7:55 P.M.