Select Board schedules Jan. 28 public hearing on regulatory compliance ordinance

The Select Board announced a public hearing at the Planning Board meeting on Jan. 28 at 5:00 p.m. regarding a proposed regulatory compliance ordinance intended to formalize the town’s building-notification/permit process for activities already covered by local ordinances (for example, groundwater protection, subdivision and floodplain regulations).

A Select Board member emphasized that the ordinance is not adopting the state building code and is not intended to impose new zoning; instead, it creates an enforceable mechanism to ensure activities already regulated in town are reported and assessed for taxation and compliance. The transcript records that the ordinance will require people to file a regulatory-compliance permit for work affecting regulated areas or when improvements change property value by $5,000 or more — triggers and a fee schedule will be developed and posted after attorney review.

Board members and residents raised questions about public notification and education for newcomers and property owners; the board said outreach and an implementation schedule will follow the public hearing and that enforcement capacity will be accompanied by a compliance officer role in town administration. The public hearing will be posted on the town website; the Planning Board will consider the ordinance at its regular meeting and, if forwarded, the measure will become a warrant article for town meeting.