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Norwich planners win commission endorsement for updated zoning regulations, map; short‑term rental enforcement left for later
Summary
After more than a year of drafting, the Norwich City Plan Commission voted Dec. 16 to give a favorable recommendation to the city council on proposed zoning text changes and a revised zoning map that add a government zone, a Greenway overlay, and updated stormwater and sediment rules. The commission flagged short‑term rental enforcement as a separate local ordinance issue.
The Norwich City Plan Commission voted Dec. 16 to forward a favorable recommendation to the city council for a comprehensive set of updated zoning regulations and a related zoning map. Deanna Rhodes, the city’s director of planning, told the commission staff had spent roughly 18 months revising the regulations to align with the Plan of Conservation and Development and to improve clarity and formatting.
Why it matters: The changes include housekeeping edits, clearer use tables, stronger and reorganized stormwater and sediment‑control requirements, a new 'government' zone to identify public properties on the map, and a Greenway overlay that follows major river corridors intended to help plan for open‑space and recreational connections. The revisions will go to the council with a positive recommendation and will enter the council’s public process.
During discussion staff said they had circulated drafts for the required 30‑day referral and received largely favorable comments, including from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Staff noted one outstanding technical request from DEP related to special flood provisions that will be added before final transmittal. Commissioners praised staff work but noted enforcement questions about short‑term rentals — a matter the planners said is likely to be handled through a separate city ordinance and enforcement mechanism rather than within zoning at this time.
The commission made a favorable recommendation on both the zoning text and the map by recorded voice vote with the motion carried unanimously. Staff said they will transmit the package to the city council and prepare any minor clarifying edits requested by DEP and other reviewers.
Next steps: The zoning referral will move to the city council for hearings and possible adoption. Planning staff said further housekeeping adjustments are expected after adoption and that additional zoning work may return in the coming months tied to housing initiatives and the North State Hospital planning work.
