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Hardwick schedules March 19 public hearing on zoning bylaw updates, including new East Hardwick district and river corridor rules
Summary
Zoning administrator Kristen Leahy briefed the board on a multi‑part zoning update — a new East Hardwick zoning district, a river‑corridor overlay tied to state flood rules, removal of an Act 181 review option, and a wording change to 'single‑unit dwelling' — and the board set a Select Board hearing for March 19 at 5:00 p.m.
Kristen Leahy, the town's zoning and floodplain administrator, told the Select Board the planning commission has forwarded a set of bylaw updates that include four principal changes: creation of a new East Hardwick zoning district, a river‑corridor overlay to align with state flood statutes, removal of the town’s Act 181 local review option, and a terminology change from "single‑family dwelling" to "single‑unit dwelling."
Kristen said the commission hosted listening sessions and mailed multiple invitations to residents in affected districts; she described the river‑corridor overlay as a state‑informed protection that helps the town qualify for additional state matching funds on large infrastructure projects and urged board members to review the draft ahead of the scheduled Select Board public hearing on March 19 at 5:00 p.m.
"The 4 main pieces to the update are number 1 is creating a brand new zoning district for East Hardwick," Kristen said, adding that East Hardwick has different needs from the central business district and warranted a tailored district. She also described the river‑corridor language as constrained by state statute and noted that adopting compatible local rules preserves local control and can increase state matching aid for projects such as bridge and flood repairs.
The board may, after the public hearing, vote to adopt the full package, send the entire set back to the Planning Commission for revisions, or reject it. Kristen said the Planning Commission and staff will be present for the hearing and that the board should be prepared to take one of the three actions at a subsequent meeting.
The Select Board set the public hearing for 5:00 p.m. on March 19; residents seeking more information were directed to the planning and flood resiliency pages on the town website and to contact staff.
If the board votes to approve the package it must act on the full set of changes (not on partial pieces) or return the entire package to the Planning Commission for further work.
