Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Text Amendment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission to open public hearing July 28 on submitted text amendment after resident urges hearing
Summary
Following public comment from Kevin Black that his text amendment is "substantially different," the commission voted unanimously to open a public hearing on application '26 tax year 004' and scheduled a special meeting for July 28, 2026 to begin the hearing.
The Groton Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to hear a citizen-submitted text amendment (identified in the meeting as application '26 tax year 004') and scheduled a special meeting for July 28, 2026 to open the public hearing.
During the communications portion of the meeting, resident Kevin Black (11 Church Street, Noank) asked the commission to hold a public hearing on a text amendment he submitted, arguing that the version on the agenda is "substantially different." He said the amendment includes a "novel mechanism" (a floating zone tool) and contended that existing property owners deserved clearer protections and conditions; he urged that the public and town attorney review the proposal in a hearing setting. His remarks included the statement: "I'd like to say that uh text amendment that I submitted, um I believe is substantially different." (transcript excerpt).
Commissioners discussed the process standard for determining whether an application is "substantially the same" — noting the standard is largely discretionary — and reviewed timing constraints for legal advertisements and state-required hearing deadlines. Staff confirmed that opening a hearing would require an advertised hearing by the end of July and that the commission could hold a special meeting if the July 14 regular meeting proved too congested. Several commissioners said they would like to see a side-by-side comparison of the existing text and the proposed language and to have the town attorney review legal issues if the matter proceeds to a hearing.
The commission then voted to schedule a special meeting on July 28 to open the public hearing on application '26 tax year 004' and approved a motion that the commission "shall hear this application." The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
Implementation steps discussed by staff included placing legal ads and circulating materials so interested residents and the town attorney can review the proposed language in advance of the special meeting.
