Planning board begins drafting conditional-use approach for wetlands, to be added to ordinance at next town meeting

The West Swanzey Planning Board opened a substantive discussion about adding conditional use permits (CUPs) and wetlands-buffer language to the town zoning ordinance. Members agreed any conditional-use framework would require an ordinance amendment and therefore could not be enacted before the next town meeting.

Board members and staff said CUPs and special exceptions perform similar functions but are administered differently; the board discussed whether the planning board or the zoning board (or the conservation commission) should administer the review. Members noted that, under current procedures, the planning board generally reviews applications and…