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Committee to add updated state abutter definition to town ordinance and notification process
Summary
Committee members noted the state broadened the statutory definition of "abutter" and agreed to add a consistent definition to the town ordinance so applicant notification lists align with state law; staff will check existing ordinance cross-references and the GIS-based abutter list function.
The Zoning Amendment Committee discussed incorporating the state’s broadened abutter definition into the town ordinance and notification procedures.
Jesse MacAother explained he had found the state adopted new language that expands who qualifies as an abutter. "It's in the requirements for an applicant to notify butters. So I mean, that in and of itself, I think, would warrant a definition of a butter. And then the definition has to be consistent with the state requirement of what the state definition is. So I think we need to do that," MacAother said.
Committee members emphasized the practical need for consistent statutory language in the ordinance because the town’s GIS tools can generate abutter lists within a set distance (for example, 500 feet). Doug Brown noted that in irregular rural lots or near lakes the notification circle can produce different results for who is considered an abutter.
What happened: the committee asked staff to cross-check the ordinance sections that require abutter notification, confirm whether a definition currently exists in the code, and, if needed, add a definition consistent with the state statute.
What it means: updating the ordinance to match the state definition will change the list of people who must be notified for certain land-use applications; the town’s GIS capability can be used to generate consistent abutter lists once the standard distance or criteria are set.
Next steps: staff will locate every ordinance reference to "abutter," confirm the state statute’s exact language, and bring proposed amendments back to the committee for approval.
