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Essex historic preservation committee votes to explore Village Overlay District, debates a design review panel
Summary
The Ad‑Hoc Historic Preservation Study Committee voted unanimously on May 11 to begin drafting a Village Overlay District in the Essex Zoning Regulations, discussed whether a Village Design Committee should review applications or whether the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) should retain that role, and assigned members to research comparable regulations in other Connecticut towns.
At its May 11 special meeting the Essex Ad‑Hoc Historic Preservation Study Committee voted unanimously to begin drafting a Village Overlay District regulation to be incorporated into the Essex Zoning Regulations.
Member David Kirsch moved to start work on the village district and the motion passed with all members present voting in favor. Chairman Peter Coombs summarized the committee’s intent: to create an overlay that would sit on top of existing zoning and to keep the proposed regulation simple in language and scope.
Committee members debated whether to establish a separate Village Design Committee (VDC) to review applications in the overlay or to have applicants work directly with the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC). Supporters said a VDC would professionalize historic‑preservation review; opponents said an extra committee could complicate and lengthen the permitting process. The committee noted that, under either approach, the PZC would serve as the final arbiter on matters of preservation within the town’s zoning framework.
Members also agreed to minimize landscaping requirements in the draft overlay because existing zoning already governs lot coverage and vegetative minimums. Jane Siris asked Land Use Official Carey Duques to identify language in the draft that duplicates current zoning so the committee can remove redundancies.
The committee reviewed critical public comments from a 2008–2009 village district effort and agreed the new draft should be concise and targeted to a clearly defined area. Members were assigned to research village district regulations adopted by other Connecticut towns (Deep River, Old Lyme, Lebanon, Kent, Farmington, Guilford, Madison, Stonington) and will reconvene on June 15 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss findings.
