The FAYSTON Selectboard is at the FINAL stage to decide on the Proposed Zoning changes for our Town. The Select Board has three basic [3] options and must issue their decision within 14 days following the hearing on the 24th. The Selectboard can: 1. Reject the entire Proposed zoning changes as presented. 2. Accept the entire Proposed zoning changes as presented. 3. Or: A combination of partial acceptance and partial rejection along with a re-write of certain portions of the Proposed Zoning containing specific Selectboard changes. All interested residents, whether IN FAVOR OF, OR OPPOSED, should attend this OPEN Select Board meeting. These changes will affect all Fayston residents for a minimum of the next 5>7 YEARS. It is vitally important your voice, and your opinions, are heard. The meeting is scheduled for The Fayston Robert Vasseur Town Hall Building, 6PM Tuesday, April 24, 2018.
From what was learned at the last open Selectboard hearing in February, The Select Board had asked the Planning Commission to answer specific questions from the discussion at this previous open meeting in February 2018. THESE QUESTIONS, AND PLANNING COMMISSION ANSWERS, CAN BE FOUND AND DOWNLOADED USING THE FOLLOWING LINK: http://www.faystonvt.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Fayston-PC-SB-letter-2018-0406.pdf The Planning Commission has responded to the Select Board's questions, where over 40 residents voiced their concern, and general opposition, to these proposed Zoning changes, without making ANY changes to the Proposed Zoning despite the overwhelming community opposition. The Town of Fayston will be affected by these decisions well into and after 2023. It is vitally important that your voice is heard. Your land-owner rights to develop your property, without undue and expensive regulations, is at stake. The potential long- term value of your property may very well be negatively affected as well! The complete, ORIGINAL Proposed zoning revision document, with BLUELINE marked changes to the current Land User Regulations document can be downloaded at: http://www.faystonvt.com/documents-forms-notices/planning-commission-notices-documents/.
Following are some key elements to be discussed on the 24th: NATURAL RESOURCE OVERLAY DISTRICT: This district will encompass approximately 58.95% of the total acreage in Fayston. It will limit and \ or eliminate future development in Fayston in this proposed zone. The proposed changes dictate driveways can be no longer than 500-600 feet. Development is limited or eliminated at elevations over 1,700 and 2,500 feet. This NEW NROD may require a landowner to provide Wildlife and Visual Impact reports, at significant additional cost, before a DRB permit can be issued. Discussion is needed by residents as to whether there is any need for this proposed land use ZONE Overlay to the now current regulations. FOREST RESERVE DISTRICT: Limit to building a driveway longer than 500-600 feet. Elimination of bike, and horseback riding trails. OTHER DISTRICTS: Limits to building envelopes to no larger than 25, 000 square feet no matter how large the parcel being developed may be. Two-foot survey contours which results in additional landowner cost. Elimination of High Water Mark vs. Top of Bank when considering stream buffers which potentially eliminates developable land areas in Fayston. Increasing the stream buffers to 100 feet [requiring conditional use approvals] vs. the current 50-foot buffers which have been in place for decades. Attempts to force residents to CLUSTER HOMES, possibly in sight of each other, to address a perceived issue of fragmentation of our forests. Additional, and costly, requirements for biological studies and wildlife studies as requirements to obtain a permit to build your home.
It is vitally important that your Fayston Taxpayer Voice is heard in this process. Please study the proposed Land Use Regulations Document http://www.faystonvt.com/documents-forms-notices/planning-commission-notices-documents/ with all changes and deletions in BLUE for easy identification. We need everyone's opinion, WHETHER FOR OR AGAINST THESE PROPOSALS, to be heard on these very important zoning regulation changes. Any final changes to our zoning rules will remain in effect for a minimum of 5>7 years so the time is now for all resident voices to be heard! I BELIEVE THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS WE MUST ASK OURSELVES, AS RESIDENTS, TAXPAYERS, AND LANDOWNERS ARE: "Have we had a problem in Fayston with excessive, uncontrolled development? Are these proposed regulations addressing an existing problem, past or present, in Fayston?" If the answer is no to these simple questions, then we should ask: Why are these zoning regulations being proposed, and imposed, on our Town? What problem[s] are these zoning restrictions solving for our community?
Respectfully,
Don Simonini,
Fayston Landowner since 1972; a homeowner since 1976; and a full-time resident since 2010.
Oct 18, 2024, 5 to 7 PM
Life Saving Training SessionOct 19, 2024, 10 to 11:30 AM
Northfield Select Board Site VisitOct 22, 2024, 4 to 4:45 PM