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ZAC to add statutory abutter definition and other housekeeping fixes to ordinance
Summary
Committee members flagged several housekeeping needs: adopt the state's broadened abutter definition where used in notice requirements, fix cross-references in the table of uses, and review odd special-exception language that allows setbacks by special exception in one zone.
Alton's Zoning Amendment Committee on Wednesday identified a set of administrative or "housekeeping" edits the town should pursue to keep the zoning ordinance consistent with state law and internally coherent.
Town planner Jesse MacAother noted the state recently broadened the definition of "abutter," and committee members agreed the ordinance should be updated wherever the municipal code requires applicant notification of abutters. MacAother said the town's GIS can generate abutter lists (for example, within a 500-foot radius) to help align practice with the statute; he asked staff to confirm the precise state wording and ensure the town definition is consistent.
The committee also identified cross-reference problems in the table of uses and in sections that loop back to each other (for example, excavation cross-references to the table of uses and vice versa), and flagged Section 4 44's subsection b: that text allows a special exception for a structure to be in a setback in the residential commercial zone, an approach that is inconsistent with other setback and variance provisions. Members asked staff to research the history of that provision and recommend whether it should remain, be referenced in the general setbacks section, or be eliminated.
Members classified these items as primarily administrative and suggested grouping several statutory- and reference-related edits into consolidated warrant language or an administrative package, subject to town counsel review.
