Rye planning committee to model cutting Conservation Land Development minimum from 20 to 10 acres

The Long Range Planning Committee on June 4 agreed to pursue modeling to assess reducing the minimum parcel size for Conservation Land Developments (CLDs) from 20 acres to 10 acres before advancing any ordinance changes.

Why it matters: Lowering the acreage threshold could allow CLDs on smaller properties, which would change the potential number and size of homes, the type of infrastructure required and developers' economic calculus. Committee members flagged concerns about shared septic systems, lot sizes and past difficulty attracting interest in 20-acre CLDs.

What the committee decided: Members asked staff to run yield and economic-viability modeling for a 10-acre CLD and to share model outputs with consultants for review. The group agreed to invite Vanessa from Annie Ward to run or review modeling work; if she is unavailable the committee will reach out to Corey Colwell or the planning director in Bedford as backups. A two-hour modeling session was scheduled for June 23 or 24 (afternoon) to evaluate results and refine options.

Implementation questions: Committee discussion noted previous attempts to develop CLDs on 20-acre sites did not draw developer interest, raising concerns that a 10-acre minimum still might not be economically viable. Infrastructure requirements—especially shared septic systems—and the resulting house sizes were emphasized as constraints that will be part of the modeling.

Next steps: The committee will complete modeling, review consultant feedback, and only if modeling shows acceptable yield and viability will it consider drafting regulatory changes for Rules and Regulations. The group said it has time to work toward a July 21 drafting deadline but could move the target to Aug. 18 if needed.