Public hearing takes up zoning and building issues before town meeting
By Karen Mann

The planning board will hold a public hearing next week to discuss various land-use articles being voted on at special town meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

The meeting will focus on a low impact development bylaw and three different zoning bylaws. One of the proposed amendment calls for the rezoning of seven parcels of land from Residential-1 to Commercial-1.

When the planning board discusses rezoning lots, they like to look at multiple lots in the area, and look at the master plan for the area, said Town Planner Alicia Altieri.

"It is a good intersection for commercial development," said Altieri.

The parcels are: 2 Narrows Road; 5 Narrows Road; 2 Hager Park Road; 3 Hager Park Road; 4 Hager Park Road; 6 Hager Park Road; and 17 Marshall Road.

According to Altieri the lot at 2 Narrows Road was deemed commercial by a special land-use variance from the planning board. The owner wants the lot to be zoned commercial.

The planning board sent letters to the owners of the parcels in question inviting them to come to the public hearing and voice their opinion. Altieri said there is time after the public if the planning board decides to reconsider some of these properties after the public hearing.

Another zoning amendment that will be discussed at the public hearing would allow retail businesses larger than 25,000 square feet to be constructed in town through the special permitting process.

Selectman Lorraine Emerson said this would not mean that any proposal to build a large retail store would be approved. Each individual project would need to obtain a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Guidelines for granting these permits will also be discussed.

The final proposed zoning bylaws, takes up the issue of building a Golf/Residential Open Space Community again.

The GROSC would be a golf course with residential dwellings built around it. The GROSC would require at least 150 acres to build.

The GROSC would include an 18-hole golf course, which could be private or public, depending on the owner's preference. It would also be the owner's preference on what type of residential dwellings would be built.

In the bylaw the planning board describes the GROSC as "a more creative and practical use of land, which also encourages the preservation of open space. It also promotes the use of land more nearly in accordance with the Westminster Master Plan 2000, the Westminster Community Development Plan 2004; and the Westminster Open Space and Recreation Plan 2006. "

According to Altieri, this article did not receive approval at Annual Town Meeting last spring. It has since been revised.

The first change, said Altieri, was renaming the bylaw, so residents know it is different than the one proposed last spring.

Other changes include increasing the buffers for property lines, so buildings are no less than 50 feet away from property lines, and adding language stating the removal or destruction of historic structures and sites shall be avoided or minimized.

Additional revisions to the bylaw will be discussed at the public hearing.

Altieri said the other issue is being discussed is a low impact development bylaw is related to storm water management.

"There are new types of systems out there that have a lower impact on land and water," said Altieri.

The bylaw would require certain guidelines be put in place for storm water and melting snow runoff. The planning board wants this to be better managed so it does not pollute streams and water supplies in town.

Another part of the article deals with development. It also focuses on keeping water supplies from becoming polluted. Along with the already required permits, any development or redevelopment project would require a low impact development permit.

In a press release issued by Altieiri she says, "the LID permits can require site design and treatment practices that will conserve open space and prevent pollutants and increased amounts of storm water from flowing into streams and water bodies."

Any project that impacts an area less than 10,000 square feet, or 25 percent of a contiguous property, would be exempt from needing a LID permit. If the bylaw passes, any project that was previously approved and already received the necessary permits would also be exempt from the new permit. There are ten other exemptions.

The public hearing will be held Monday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of the Westminster Elementary School.