Keene Planning Board refers Land Development Code edits to City Council after lengthy debate on 'primary entrance' language

The Keene Planning Board voted on Nov. 14 to refer a package of amendments to the city’s Land Development Code to City Council for incorporation into Chapter 100 of the ordinances, after extended discussion over screening language and how to define a building’s "primary entrance." The board approved a motion to strike a locally added definition from its version of the draft and to forward a single definition to city council for placement in the code’s universal definitions.

Senior planner Mary Brunner, who led the presentation, said the amendments are intended mainly as cleanups and clarifications to make the code easier for applicants and staff to use. "The land development code…was formally adopted in 2021," Brunner said, and the project’s goals are summed up in the tagline "building better, together," with an emphasis on making regulations "efficient, simple, and thoughtful." She told the board the changes also respond to a recent state law (cited in the meeting) that extends development timelines: "Once an applicant gets final approval from you, they have 3 years to start the project and 7 years to complete the project," Brunner said, describing the…