Council discusses curb-and-gutter placement, yard incentives and beautification in planning and zoning update

Council discussion returned repeatedly to street improvements and neighborhood appearance as the town’s planning and zoning committee works on the general plan.

Several speakers noted that curb and gutter work had originally focused on Cemetery Road as a town showpiece; others said the program later was spread to other streets. Council members explained the town typically is able to submit roughly two streets per year for curb-and-gutter work and invited residents to suggest candidate streets for next year’s application.

Planning and zoning members proposed incentives to encourage better property maintenance including a yard-of-the-month program with a suggested $100 incentive (for example, a credit off a water bill). The committee also discussed staging town-scale cleanup days, placing temporary dumpsters around town for three-day periods and using town equipment to assist property cleanup. A resident passed along a complaint about the appearance of White Horse Station and asked the town to consider incentives to improve its exterior.

Council and planning and zoning members said they will bring back more detailed proposals to next year’s planning cycle and, if feasible, include specific actions in the general plan update.

Remarks about curb-and-gutter placement and yard incentives occurred during the planning and zoning report in the meeting; the transcript shows suggestions and questions but no formal motions or votes on these items.