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Council approves subdivision-checklist change, grants one-year extension for Bay Avenue project and discusses master-plan revision
Summary
The council approved an amendment to require utility locations be marked before minor subdivisions, unanimously granted a one-year extension for 89 Bay Avenue to meet updated floodproofing rules, and discussed an accelerated master-plan rewrite and concerns about recent FEMA flood-elevation proposals.
The town council voted unanimously to adopt an amendment to the minor-subdivision checklist intended to prevent future cases where utilities serving one lot are located on an adjacent parcel.
A council member explained the change follows a recent subdivision on Grand Tour where “all of the utilities for one property are on the other property,” creating an ownership and maintenance problem. The amendment will require utilities to be properly located and documented before the town approves similar subdivisions.
The action on Ordinance D-19 was paired with a procedural finding. A motion to determine the checklist amendment was not inconsistent with the town master plan was moved and seconded and passed on a roll call vote.
Separately, the council unanimously approved a one-year extension for the LU-2022-D01 ARA-2 application for 89 Bay Avenue. Staff and a council member said the applicant needs additional time to meet updated floodproofing standards enacted in 2022 and intends to install flood panels and other floodproofing measures. The extension was described in the meeting as a one-year delay to allow the owner to secure contractors and meet the newer requirements.
Council members spent significant time discussing the town’s master plan and a near-term deadline for updating it. Members said the plan — last adopted years ago — needs substantial revision to reflect recent changes in building codes, regulatory requirements and local conditions. The council agreed to divide the work into roughly five major questions, seek volunteers for specific sections, and aim to assign tasks before the end of the year to meet an apparent 2026 completion target.
Members also raised concerns about recent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood-elevation proposals discussed informally in the meeting; one member described potential proposals to raise base flood elevations by several feet and said such changes could make building requirements impractical in some cases.
Administrative items concluded the session: the council recorded a late arrival for the minutes and confirmed other routine motions. No formal final action on the master plan was taken at the meeting; the work plan and volunteer assignments are expected to be handled in upcoming sessions.
