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Arlington board imposes six-month moratorium on new utility land uses
Summary
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on new utility and public-utility land-use applications to give staff time to draft zoning and permit guidelines; town attorney said there are no pending applications.
The Arlington Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved a six-month moratorium Thursday on all new utility and public-utility land uses so staff can research and develop land-use guidelines.
Town Attorney Gerald Lawson told the board the moratorium is a proactive measure and that “there are no current applications,” adding the pause will allow staff to craft zoning and permitting criteria. Lawson said the measure covers all types of power sources rather than targeting any single technology.
Why it matters: board members said the moratorium gives Arlington time to decide whether to add or revise zoning categories — for example, defining appropriate acreage for utility sites or creating a heavy-industrial designation — before new applications arrive.
Discussion at the meeting focused on the limits of local authority and zoning tools. Lawson told the board it could not simply outlaw a type of use outright but could define where such facilities are permitted; he said staff may recommend adjustments to the town’s zoning map or use definitions.
Alderman Harry McKee moved approval and Alderman Jeremy Biggs seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Next steps: staff will research model ordinances, potential zones and permitting language and return to the board with recommendations before the moratorium expires.
