Planning board reviews zoning code rewrite, advisory‑board procedures and upcoming solar/battery public hearing

The planning board discussed two interrelated process items: a proposed rewrite of the zoning code book (particularly site‑plan review sections) and a long‑range recommendation to route certain site‑plan applications to advisory boards for early review.

Committee members said the code book has been amended many times and that reorganizing sections—for example, collecting all M‑1 rules in one place—would improve clarity. Long‑range committee members suggested preemptively circulating the draft site‑plan review language to advisory boards so members could provide feedback before the town board acts. The idea would create a flowchart and calendar indicating which triggers (for example, projects over a threshold such as 5,000 sq ft) require full advisory review.

Several members warned that routing every site plan to every advisory board could delay applicants and create practical challenges; others responded that a coordinated early review could avoid repeated back‑and‑forth later in the process. The board discussed using thresholds or triggers to limit full advisory review to larger or potentially impactful projects.

On energy regulation, board members said the draft battery/solar law had been drafted and that a public hearing was scheduled for the coming Monday; members agreed to place the draft on unfinished business and provide feedback after the public hearing and attorney review.

The board agreed to continue reviewing the draft code book in subsequent meetings and to consider placing key sections on unfinished business so advisory boards can provide comments.