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Selectboard reviews planning-board changes: accessory retail, flag lots and telecom updates
Summary
Planning staff summarized revisions to the Land Use Ordinance, including a new 'accessory retail' designation for small retail in rural zones, clarified rear/flag-lot rules, a two-year limit on approved subdivision plans, and updates to wireless-telecom standards and surety language.
The selectboard reviewed a set of Land Use Ordinance changes prepared by the planning board and planning staff. Town staff introduced the amendments, noting most were wording clarifications but several substantive additions include an 'accessory retail' designation (to allow small retail under roughly 1,000–1,200 square feet in rural zones), added flag-lot language, clarified what constitutes a rear lot, and a two-year activity window for approved subdivision plans.
Article 10 received concentrated updates related to wireless telecommunications: setback and landscaping requirements were refined, and language was added to require a surety guarantee so funds would be available to remove a tower if necessary. The planning board chose not to move the wireless-telecom zone but revised setbacks and landscaping rules based on current experience.
Planning staff noted alignment with LD 427 for parking provisions in downtown areas (one or two spaces per dwelling unit as mandated) and said the board had intentionally held off on changes related to LD 1829 (accessory dwelling units) pending a pending 'fix' bill at the state level.
The planning staff recommended establishing planning-board review fees or an escrow process so applicants, not taxpayers, pay for outside technical reviews (engineer/attorney) when complex applications require them. Board members discussed guardrails and the need to balance good review with not creating prohibitive costs for development.
No final adoption of the ordinance changes by the selectboard was recorded in this meeting; planning staff said the planning board planned a public hearing and a vote on the changes that would bring them forward as a warrant article to the selectboard.
