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Town tables zoning fix, reconvenes ZRC to study lot-coverage changes
Summary
The Ghent Town Board voted to table Local Law No. 1 (Resolution 46) and reconvene an ad hoc Zoning Review Committee to correct a drafting glitch and study appropriate lot-coverage percentages for business versus residential uses. Dan will chair the reopened ZRC.
The Ghent Town Board on Tuesday voted to table a county-referred zoning change (Local Law No. 1, Resolution 46) and to reconvene an ad hoc Zoning Review Committee (ZRC) to perform a two-step review of the code changes.
A board member argued the town should "fix the glitch" in the ordinance language first and then spend more time evaluating what percentage of lot coverage is appropriate for business and residential properties. That member warned against hastily expanding lot-coverage allowances in a way that could make the commercial district resemble a busy retail corridor.
The board voted to table the measure and directed staff to reconvene the ZRC. Dan agreed to chair the reopened committee; existing members named for the ad hoc panel included Lyall Truid and Jeff French, with a fifth member to be named later. The ZRC will be asked to complete both the immediate clean-up work and the longer analysis on lot-coverage and return recommendations to the board.
Board members said the two-step approach is intended to give the planning and zoning boards clearer standards when evaluating applications and to avoid unintentional downstream effects of a poorly drafted change. No formal timetable for the ZRC's next meeting was set during the session.
The action was procedural: the board tabled Resolution 46 to allow for further review and appointed members to study the issue.
