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Planning board recommends zoning ordinance changes to reinstate special-use permit criteria, including criteria for backyard poultry
Summary
The board voted to recommend zoning ordinance revisions to the town council that restore special-use permits with specific criteria (page 22 onward), including rules for keeping poultry for home use, bed-and-breakfasts, and senior residential uses, developed with consultant Weston & Sampson.
On Oct. 22 the planning board voted to send a positive recommendation to the town council for a major zoning-ordinance revision that restores and details special-use permit criteria.
Planning staff said the revisions add a new "use criteria" column and a separate section of specific criteria starting on page 22 of the packet. "We separated keeping poultry for home use from general keeping of animals and added criteria," Stephanie said, noting the ordinance now includes specific provisions (for example, coop size and fencing) for poultry, bed-and-breakfasts, nursing homes and other uses. Staff said they worked with Weston & Sampson to develop the criteria and that the changes were reviewed in a smaller work session with the chair and two council members.
A board member moved to send a positive recommendation to the town council, and the motion passed with ayes recorded. Staff said the redline contains mostly previously existing text restructured and that the new special-use criteria are in a new section for Town Council consideration.
The council will receive the recommendation and, if it approves, the ordinance will return to the planning board for any implementation details required by state law.
