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Jamestown planning board recommends LDO changes to require sidewalks on new streets and clarify watershed wording
Summary
The Jamestown Planning Board voted to recommend updates to the town’s Land Development Ordinance to make sidewalk requirements consistent (both sides of new public streets) and to clarify a watershed exemption by replacing the term “zone lot” with “lot of record.” The changes were recommended unanimously after no public comments.
The Jamestown Planning Board recommended approval of two technical amendments to the town’s Land Development Ordinance during a public hearing and roll‑call vote at its meeting.
Planning staff presented the proposed changes, which appear as redline edits in the board packet. The first amendment corrects an inconsistency in sidewalk language: while most sections of the ordinance already require sidewalks on both sides of public streets, staff said section 2.20 D2 previously referenced sidewalks on only one side. Staff said the update will change the language to state that “sidewalks shall be required along both sides of new streets,” while keeping an exemption for private streets that are not adopted by the town so those private developments may be required to provide sidewalks on only one side.
The second amendment clarifies an exemption in Article 19 (watershed protection). Staff explained that the ordinance currently uses the term “zone lot” in one place where the intended meaning is the recorded parcel; the proposal replaces “zone lot” with “lot of record” so that exemptions clearly apply to lots of record (staff referenced examples of older recorded lots, including years cited in the packet/transcript such as 1993 and 2000).
No members of the public signed up to comment during the hearing. After discussion, a motion to recommend approval of the proposed LDO amendments was moved and seconded; the clerk conducted a roll‑call vote. Members who recorded affirmative votes were Sher Richmond, Robert, Brent Gomez, Poing, Jane Walker Payne, Darlene Fety, Donald Dell and Susan Stringer. The motion passed.
Board staff framed the changes as clarifications intended to promote a walkable community and to remove ambiguous terminology so the ordinance is easier to interpret and apply. The board adopted a set of findings stating the amendments are consistent with Jamestown’s comprehensive plan and in the public interest.
The recommendation will be forwarded to the town decision‑makers for their consideration. The hearing record shows no public opposition at this meeting.
