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Bluff planners begin streamlining zoning code and consider change‑of‑use request for education facility
Summary
Commissioners discussed goals for a broad zoning‑code rewrite aimed at simplification and reviewed a specific change‑of‑use inquiry for a residential lot being used for education programming; staff said zoning amendments require a public hearing and the current application fee is $500 but the fee schedule may change after the pending public hearing.
Bluff Planning and Zoning commissioners spent much of their April 2 meeting laying groundwork for a comprehensive zoning‑code revision and addressing a pending change‑of‑use inquiry from a residential lot being used as an education facility.
Commissioners said their rewrite aims to simplify language, reduce overly‑specific listings of permitted buildings, and consider organizing rules by "use" rather than by building type. Commissioner Brian Whitney and Commissioner Anne Brown were assigned to review sections 6.0106–6.0113 (zoning districts, lot sizes and setbacks); other commissioners will review procedural sections and site‑plan rules ahead of a focused work session. Commissioners asked staff to prepare guiding principles for the work session to prevent scope creep and agreed goals could fill the entire meeting.
Separately, the commission reviewed a change‑of‑use inquiry for a property currently operating as a school or vocational‑training site. Town Manager Darren Nelson said zoning map or text amendments are land‑use actions that require a full public hearing; he also noted the master fee schedule currently lists the application fee for zoning‑map and text amendments at $500 each and that the proposed fee changes under consideration could increase fees after the public hearing. Commissioners discussed whether the planned zoning rewrite could address the parcel more broadly or whether the applicant should pursue the standard amendment process now.
Commissioners emphasized due process: an applicant may apply for a zone change that affects only their property, and any town‑initiated code edits will include separate public hearings and opportunities for comment. The commission closed the meeting after approving minutes and scheduling work on goals and section reviews for the upcoming work session.
