Planning Commission recommends batch of zoning code amendments, asks council to consider planner’s revisions to use table

The Coventry Planning Commission on Feb. 26 voted to recommend a broad package of municipal code amendments to the Town Council and separately asked the council to consider a planner-proposed revision to the zoning use table (Attachment 10a).

Town Solicitor Stephen Angel told the commission that 18 ordinances were before the council as a first batch of code updates and that the council would conduct full hearings at its next meeting. The ordinances update zoning and related provisions to reflect changes in state law and local policy.

The commission took the package in three votes: a recommendation on ordinances 1–12 (excluding Attachment 10a), a separate recommendation on attachment 10a as presented by the council, and a motion forwarding the planning director’s verbally presented amendments to Attachment 10a for council consideration. The commission also voted favorably on ordinances 13–18 as a second block.

Planning staff said most changes were non-substantive clarifications or responses to state law, and that the current round represented an initial “first bite” of code updates; staffing and the solicitor described a later, more extensive code overhaul as forthcoming. The planning director recommended the removal of “accessory dwelling units” as a standalone entry in the use table and proposed conservative edits that would leave in place “no” entries where staff recommended erring on the side of not introducing new allowed uses in industrial districts at this stage. Specifically, planning staff recommended delaying changes that would convert prior “not allowed” uses to “allowed” in districts such as Industrial 1 and Industrial 2 for items including sale of paint/floor coverings, motor vehicle dealers/repairs, tire/battery dealers, antique shops, government-owned buildings, and private daycare or educational uses.

Commission action summary: - Motion to recommend ordinances 1–12 (except Attachment 10a) and to adopt the planner’s findings of fact: moved by Mr. Kenny, seconded by Mr. Price; vote — aye, motion carries. - Motion to recommend Attachment 10a as presented by the council (2025-10) and incorporate the planning director’s report: moved and seconded; vote — aye, motion carries. The commission then separately forwarded the planning director’s verbally presented amendments to Attachment 10a for the council’s consideration. - Motion to recommend ordinances 13–18 and the planning department’s findings of fact: moved by Mr. Kenny, seconded by Mr. Kolunian; vote — aye, motion carries.

Public comment was solicited; none was offered in person or via Zoom during the ordinance discussion. Planning staff asked the commission to adopt the planner’s written findings as part of the recommendation.

Next steps: The Town Council will hold public hearings on the ordinances and receive the Planning Commission’s recommendations and the planning director’s suggested amendments to Attachment 10a.

Context: The packet and two memoranda from planning staff were distributed in advance; the solicitor said the changes are intended to incorporate state-law-driven amendments and to preserve the option for a broader code overhaul later.