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Council reintroduces curb‑cut ordinance; substantive edits deferred for more discussion
Summary
Council reintroduced an ordinance to tighten driveway apron/curb‑cut rules and variance standards, agreeing to bring substantive amendments (time‑limited grandfathering and variance thresholds) back to a future work session rather than block the reintroduction.
Somerset’s council moved to reintroduce an ordinance aimed at tightening rules on driveway aprons and curb cuts and to revisit substantive edits at a later work session.
Town counsel (Ron) reviewed the draft changes and explained that the proposal would limit properties to one curb cut in order to preserve street parking, while allowing existing multiple curb cuts lawfully in place as of 12/05/2011 to remain. Council member Khanna proposed two substantive edits: set a sunset for grandfathering (for example, December 2075) or revoke grandfathering if a major addition (roughly 200 square feet or more) is undertaken.
Ron explained the legal rationale: nonconforming features are ordinarily phased out over time and variances should be a narrow, hardship‑based exception rather than a broadly available waiver. He advised that Somerset’s current code provides a lower bar for variances than is typical, and that the proposed edits would align the town with common municipal practice.
Council members were split on details but agreed the ordinance should be reintroduced without the ‘purple’ (substantive) edits so the reintroduction does not lapse; the council will continue to debate the grandfathering timeframe and variance thresholds at a future work session. At the special council meeting segment, members voted to introduce the ordinance for consideration at the next council meeting.
Next steps: the ordinance will be formally reintroduced at the next council meeting; the council retained the option to add or amend the proposed edits after further discussion at a subsequent work session.
