Planning commission adopts reworked Schedule A zoning uses; sets effective date June 20

The North Branford Planning & Zoning Commission voted on June 4 to adopt a rewrite of Schedule A of the town’s zoning regulations, reorganizing use categories across residential, community facilities and services, commercial, and accessory parts and setting the amendment’s effective date to June 20, 2026.

Chair Robert Nowak summarized the changes, noting the rewrite splits existing parts into more clearly defined subcategories. "Part C (commercial) was reorganized into eight light categories and 36 subparts," the chair said in explaining the reclassification. Planner David Perkins told the commission the change clarifies and tightens certain architectural and design criteria tied to the form-based code work and recommended the June 20 effective date. "Make the effective date 06/20/2026 and state the changes are in accordance with the plan of conservation and development," Perkins advised.

Commissioners discussed procedural and policy implications before voting. The commission asked for language noting conformity with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development; it also discussed timing relative to state law changes affecting by-right housing conversions. After motions and clarifying language were read into the record, the commission approved the Schedule A amendments; the meeting minutes record the approval as "Motion carries 4 to 0." The commission instructed staff to publish the adoption language and to ensure the effective date and plan-of-development conformity statement appear in the final adopted text.

The adopted changes will appear on the town’s official records with the stated effective date, and staff said they will continue to integrate the Schedule A categories into form-based code work for Northford Center and any related conservation or traffic mitigation districts.