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Richmond Planning Board moves meeting times, removes occupancy-permit ordinance and reviews subdivision rules
Summary
At its April 21 meeting the Planning Board voted to set regular meetings to 6:30 p.m. with hearings opening at 7:00 p.m., voted to remove Ordinance Article 1204 (Occupancy Permit), and discussed subdivision regulation clarifications; a selectman requested more detail from town attorneys on a site-plan review for St. Benedict's.
The Town of Richmond Planning Board on April 21 voted to change its standard meeting time to 6:30 p.m. and to set all public hearings to open at 7:00 p.m. The motion, made by Selectman representative Doug Bersaw and seconded by Vice Chairman Greg Butko, passed unanimously.
The board also voted to remove Article 1204 (Occupancy Permit) and 1204.1 from the Ordinance book after Land Use Assistant Lisa LaClair identified that occupancy permits are now covered by the Zoning Compliance Certificate (ZCC). "The Occupancy Permit is no longer valid and should be removed; Ordinance 1204 Occupancy Permit and 1204.1," the transcript records LaClair as saying during the ordinance update discussion. Doug Smith moved the removal; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Board members noted that the State can issue a certificate of occupancy at the homeowner's expense and that the town is not responsible for that state action.
During the Selectmen report, Doug Bersaw said the town attorneys, Drummond and Woodson, provided an initial opinion that saw no reason for a new site plan review for the St. Benedict's Center Convent following a change in footprint but did not provide detailed reasoning; the Selectmen requested more detail from counsel. Bersaw also reported approval of the first DADU Zoning Compliance Certificate in town.
The board discussed subdivision regulation clarifications under Article 404 to distinguish a housing subdivision (development) from a lot subdivision. Members restated the definitions recorded in the regulations: a major subdivision is four or more lots and a minor subdivision is two to three lots. The board considered creating an abbreviated checklist with automatic waivers tied to subdivision size and to add guidance noting lot-line adjustments that do not create new buildable lots may not require a public hearing.
The board accepted minutes for April 7 and April 14, 2026, and discussed creating an onboarding packet for new members that would include regulation handbooks, the Ordinance Book, Rules of Procedure and the Master Plan. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Next steps: staff to update checklists and regulation forms following the ordinance corrections work, and the board to present the occupancy-permit removal at the next town ordinance hearing as recorded.
