Starks Planning Board approves revisions to three ordinances, schedules Nov. 6 public hearing

The Starks Planning Board on Oct. 2 approved revisions to three town ordinances and set a Nov. 6 public hearing to solicit public comment before the proposed amendments are placed on the March 8, 2025 Annual Town Meeting ballot.

The Board recommended a specific change to the Site Plan Review Ordinance (Section 9, Post Approval Provisions) that would limit approval validity: construction covered by a Site Plan approval must be substantially completed within 18 months of the approval date or the approval becomes null and void. An applicant may request extensions in writing; the Board may grant up to two consecutive 12-month extensions if the approved plan conforms to then-effective ordinances and all federal and state approvals and permits are current. Upon a motion and second, the Board passed the revision as written.

The Board also passed revisions to the Board of Appeals Ordinance focused on when and how variances should be issued and on criteria for assessing 'undue hardship.' Separately, revisions to the Wireless Communications Facilities Ordinance address issuance of performance guarantees, application and technical fees, notification to abutters, and height restrictions on structures; the Board passed those revisions as written.

A public hearing on all three proposed ordinance changes is scheduled for Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. The minutes state the amendments will be slated for a floor vote at the Annual Town Meeting on March 8, 2025. The Oct. 2 minutes do not record individual votes by member name for these motions.