FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 8, 2023
William J. Fraser, City Manager
Planning Commission Public Hearing on Amendments to Zoning Bylaws and River Hazard Area Regulations
MONTPELIER, VT— The Planning Commission recently warned a public hearing for December 11 at 5:30 PM to take input on a set of zoning changes as well as a small amendment to the River Hazard Area Regulations. These proposed changes have been compiled over the past 18 months and are intended to remove barriers to housing development and make the permit process more efficient.
The zoning changes including 1) zoning map changes to 155 Northfield Street, Country Club Road, 29 Sibley St., and to change the Residential 24,000 district to Residential 9000; 2) Elimination of Residential 24,000 zoning district due to Home Act (incorporate into Residential 9000); 3) Added new districts and neighborhoods to Country Club Road Site; 4) Change residential density of Residential 9000 district to be 1 unit per 8,712 sq. ft. due to Home Act; 5) Changes to the use table to address congregate living, new multifamily use, and other changes; 6) expanded density exemption to allow 4 units on a parcel from the existing 2 units; 7) Added density exemption for any property in the Design Review Overlay District; 8) Major revision to demolition provisions; 9) Major sign revision; 10) remove solar access and shading rules; 11) moved boundary line adjustments outside of subdivision review; 12) permanent adoption of interim rules for emergency housing; 13) other technical fixes.
The river hazard area amendment will change how critical facilities are regulated. These facilities will be required to be elevated or dry floodproofed to a point that is 2 feet above the 500-year floodplain as opposed to the 100-year flood event. After taking public comments on the proposal, the Planning Commission will review the proposal and make any changes before sending them to the City Council for their consideration.
Copies of the drafts can be found at https://www.montpelier-vt.org/833/Zoning-Subdivision-Regulations. Please look for the Zoom link to the hearing on the City's Agendas & Minutes page. A copy of the hearing notice is also available with the draft bylaws at the link above.
Please contact Planning Director Mike Miller at mmiller@montpelier-vt.org if you have any questions or comments.
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