Planning commission forwards Light Industrial West zone to council after changes; motion passes

After an extended line-by-line review, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the draft Light Industrial West zone to the town council.

Commissioners discussed permitted uses (including accessory uses and accessory structures), site development standards (setbacks, screening, material-storage limitations, maximum building heights), utility expectations (staff indicated service drops and on-site utility connections should be underground in new developments) and screening for outdoor storage. Commissioners requested language clarifications: moving “industrial retail space” to an accessory-use listing; defining flex space and multi-tenant industrial buildings (MTIB); distinguishing self-storage from warehouse storage; and removing or revising items that could allow vehicle-junkyard uses.

The commission also debated a minimum lot size for the zone; given septic-system constraints and the current absence of a sewer system, commissioners kept a 1-acre minimum lot size for the zone but discussed allowing shared buildings with common walls as one way to make smaller footprints workable.

After staff incorporated edits and commissioners resolved remaining questions about fencing, storage screening and utility lines, Commissioner Jane moved and another commissioner seconded a motion recommending the Light Industrial West zone to the town council. The motion passed on a recorded vote.

Ending: The commission recommended the Light Industrial West zone to the town council with the requested clarifications and condition edits; the zone now moves to the council for consideration.