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Board reviews proposed clarifications to development plan review; will refine draft for October
Summary
The Planning Board reviewed proposed ordinance cleanups and terminology changes for development plan review (DPR) to align with state law and local practice; board asked staff to search the code for remaining DPR references and to provide revised language for next month.
On Sept. 10 the New Shoreham Planning Board discussed proposed zoning ordinance amendments to the town’s development plan review (DPR) provisions intended to align local terminology with state law and to clarify where DPR applies.
Peter summarized that New Shoreham has historically limited DPR and, following recent state changes, the town elected to restrict DPR to a handful of prominent properties or zones. The proposed cleanup would align DPR terminology with state law and clarify that DPR applies primarily to certain special zones (public education, public utility, medical center) and planned development zones such as Old Harbor Meadows and Salt Pond Settlement. The board also discussed whether development plan review appears elsewhere in the code (for example, in rules governing accessory dwelling units) and asked staff to search for and consolidate all references.
Board members discussed whether the transfer station, health center and school remain appropriate categories for enhanced review and whether a “major land development” process would be a better mechanism for larger projects with broader public notice. The board asked staff to return with a revised ordinance draft that captures the proposed terminology cleanup, lists all locations where DPR remains applicable, and considers a more explicit major‑land‑development process where appropriate.
No final vote was taken; the board indicated more review was needed and expected to continue the item in October.
