RREVISIONS to Warren Land Use and Development Regulations

Revisions to Warren Land Use and Development Regulations

SUMMARY REPORT

Pursuant to VSA Title 24 § [§4441}. The Warren Planning Commission wil= l hold a public hearing on January 14, 2008, 7:30 PM at the Warren Municipal Building to receive public comment on the proposed revisions to Warren Land Use and Development Regulations, amended and adopted on January 31, 2006. Also in accordance with state law = (24 V.S.A. §4441) the Planning Commission is required to prepare a written report documenting whether the proposed amendments conform to the Warren To= wn Plan currently in effect.

Explanation of Amendment: The primary focus of = the amendments is the requirement to modify these bylaws to meet the National Flood Insurance Program requirements. NFIP has released drafts of the fl= ood hazard maps and they will be finalized shortly at the end of the comment period. Once the maps are fin= al, the Town’s flood hazard bylaws must meet the NFIP requirements in ord= er for the Town to remain in the flood insurance program, which is critical.

In addition, this is an appropriate time to implement = other changes to the bylaws that are largely administrative in nature and consist= of the following:

1) Adding narrative descriptions of all the Zoning Districts. This was omitted as an oversight w= hen last major revision to the bylaws was completed in 2001. Having narrative descriptions will= help provide the necessary precision to complement the Official Zoning Map.

2) Adding= a new Administrative Review process which should speed the review of minor amendm= ents to previously approved conditional use permits and subdivision plans by all= owing them to be approved by the Town’s Administrative Officer, rather than requiring a full Development Review Board hearing, thus saving time and money. Adequate procedures and guidelines are provided for informing the public and DRB in advance and all= owing them to request a full DRB hearing instead.

3) Adding= a requirement for subdivision applicants to file a digital copy (in addition = to the Mylar and paper copies) in a format that is compatible with the Town’s digital parcel mapping system in order to enhance and best uti= lize that system.

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4) Clarif= ying the standards, required submissions, and related definitions for development on steep slopes. This is in resp= onse to comments from the DRB about the lack of precision in certain areas of the bylaws that has created confusion.

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5) Adding “duplex” as a conditional use in most zoning districts. In the 2006 amendments to the Land= Use and Development Regulations, the Town significantly expanded the accessory dwelling provisions so that, among other things, there is no size restricti= on on how large an accessory dwelling can be relative to the size of the origi= nal single family dwelling. Since a single family dwelling and its accessory dwelling can now be the same size, it makes sense to also create a formal duplex category.

Purpose: The purpose of proposed amendments is = to: 1) conform the bylaws to the National Flood Insurance Program requirements and= 2) make other largely administrative changes to improve the understanding of t= he bylaws, and improve the review process.

These amendments are largely administrative rather than substantive in nature and the Warren Planning Commission has determined that the proposed amendments are in conformance with the Warren Town Plan (as conformance is defined in 24 V.S.A. §4303) in that:

1. They are consistent with= the goals and policies of the Warren Town Plan.

2. The proposed amendments = are compatible with proposed densities and land uses in the Plan, as provided in Sections 3 and 10 of the Plan.

3. The proposed amendments = do not include any new or revised standards for community facilities, and therefore will not affect any specific proposals for community facilities or other proposed actions contained in the Plan.

We therefore approve the proposed amendments to the To= wn of Warren Land Use Regulations to= be warned for Planning Commission public hearing on Monday January 14, 2008 at 7:30 pm in the Municipal Building and for subsequent transmittal to the Warren Select Board.

Dated this 10^th day of December 2007.

By the Warren Planning Commission:

Mike Ketchel= , Chair &= nbsp; =

John Donalds= on, Vice Chair =

John Goss = &nb= sp; =

Don LaHaye &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

Lisa Miserendino = &nb= sp; =

Jim Sanford<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

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&nbs= p; ARTICLES & APPENDECIES SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Index Of Proposed Changes=

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Article 2. Zoning Districts & Dis= trict Standards