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Avon PZC adopts revised zoning regulations; permits two‑family dwellings by right in R‑30 and R‑40
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to adopt revised Town zoning regulations, incorporating staff changes and approving a reclassification of Educational Land (EL), a requirement that solar in EL be approved by special permit, and permission for two‑family dwellings by right in the R‑30 and R‑40 zones following a 5–2 vote on that item; the overall draft adoption passed unanimously.
The Avon Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 9 adopted a revised set of zoning regulations that the commission said updates several development definitions, clarifies procedural waivers and expands housing options in several residential zones.
Attorney Robin Pearson, speaking virtually on behalf of Avon Old Farms School (AOFS), submitted minor wording clarifications and sought specific allowances for educational land uses and appropriately sized signage on AOFS property. Director Hiram Peck recommended clarifying language that would reclassify the Educational Land (EL) district into the regulations' "Other Districts" category and advised that solar structures on EL land be subject to a special permit.
The staff memo (Aug. 26, 2025) presented a package of proposed edits including adding a definition and standards chart for retaining walls; clarifying accessory dwelling unit (ADU) lot‑size language; allowing a second detached sign by special permit when two buildings exist on a parcel; adding the word "physical" to clarify "site characteristics" terms linked to State statutes; requiring written waiver requests and a majority vote to grant waivers; correcting "sewage" to "sewerage"; permitting "personal uses/services" in the OP Zone; adopting CT native plant guidance for landscaping; and allowing two‑family dwellings by right in the R‑30 and R‑40 zones subject to compliance with all Town department standards.
Commissioner Joseph Gentile opposed allowing two‑family dwellings as of right, saying the owner could rent both units and "the end result is two apartment units in a residential zone," and noted Avon has approved many apartments in recent years. Chair Lisa Levin and other commissioners said permitting two‑family dwellings would broaden housing options while maintaining full compliance requirements for building, fire, engineering and health codes. The commission agreed to remove the term "duplex" and replace it with "two‑family dwelling."
On Item #10 (the two‑family dwelling change) the commission voted 5–2 in favor (Levin, White, Mahoney, Baran, Stevenson for; Gentile and DiPace opposed). Later, after incorporating staff memo items and the agreed modifications, Chair Levin moved to adopt the Draft Zoning Regulations as posted on the Town planning website; the motion, seconded by Commissioner Baran, passed unanimously. The adoption directs staff to convene a parking study to explore parking ratio changes and to review Work/Live regulations to promote mixed uses in certain zones. The regulations will take effect 30 days after legal notice publication.
The commission also agreed that proposed signage for Avon Old Farms School should return to the commission for review and that any solar use on EL‑zoned property will require a special permit under Section 7.1.C.
The commission recorded the revisions and requested staff follow up on the parking study and Work/Live review as part of implementation.
