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Winchester sets public hearing for zoning e‑codification, reviews cannabis buffer and parking items
Summary
The commission scheduled a public hearing on consolidated zoning regulations for April 14, reviewed a proposal to remove a 200‑foot buffer for some cannabis uses and discussed adding parking language for marinas and other special‑permit uses.
The Winchester Town Planning and Zoning Commission voted to put an e‑codification of the town’s zoning regulations on public hearing on April 14, giving the public an opportunity to review a reorganized and consolidated draft of the rules.
Commissioners discussed two specific items that appear in the packet. PCC 25‑1, a regulation change submitted by the town, proposes modifying Section 4(d) to remove a 200‑foot prohibition tied to certain “sensitive” uses for siting cannabis establishments; that item will be the subject of a separate public hearing already scheduled for April 14. Commissioners noted concerns raised during discussion about geographic saturation and said state licensing generally governs the number of retail cannabis licenses.
On PCC 25‑2, the commission reviewed an e‑codification and reorganization of subdivision and zoning language. Commissioners supported reorganizing the use table into categories instead of an alphabetical list to make online searching easier and clearer.
Commission members also identified a gap in the use table and parking schedule: several uses — including marina — lack explicit parking requirements in the draft. Commissioners asked staff to add clear wording that parking requirements for those uses will be determined as part of the special‑permit review. Claudia, staff reviewer, agreed to add language stating parking requirements for the marina use shall be determined through the special‑permit process.
Town staff said they will provide a draft zoning map at a future meeting and that the public hearing notices will be posted per commission direction. A motion to schedule the e‑codification for public hearing on April 14 carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.
