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Commission creates new R-8 zoning district to allow smaller-lot two-family housing; requires public water and sewer
Summary
The commission approved a new R-8 residential district that establishes minimum 8,000-square-foot single-family lots and 4,000-square-foot lots for two-family homes, and added a requirement that public water and sewer be available.
The Zoning Commission voted 6–0 on Feb. 3 to add a new R-8 residential zoning district to the town's regulations. The R-8 district sets minimum lot sizes of 8,000 square feet for single-family homes and allows 4,000-square-foot lots for two-family homes, with corresponding setbacks and development standards.
Commissioners and staff said the district is intended to provide a calibrated increase in housing diversity and to allow two-family homes in appropriate locations while preserving review and oversight. During discussion commissioners said an R-8 district would still require applicants to demonstrate consistency with the Plan of Conservation and Development and to proceed through the normal public-review steps (rezoning and site-plan or special-exception processes as applicable).
Staff recommended and commissioners accepted language that the R-8 designation be subject to availability of public water and sewer service; that requirement was added to the motion. The motion to adopt the R-8 district, with the public-water-and-sewer sentence included, passed unanimously 6–0. As with other text amendments adopted that night, the changes are effective immediately pending the statutory appeal period noted in the staff memorandum.
