Town Review Board to resume Section 23 ordinance review, resubmits Pre-Application Checklist to clerk

At its Dec. 20, 2024 meeting the Town Review Board reviewed a Pre-Application Checklist and clarified how language in that checklist aligns with Ordinance 2012-01, Section 23-18.

Board members noted that the verbiage in Item 1 under the heading "A Formal Site Plan and TRB Site Plan Approval is Required if ANY of the following apply:" does not appear in Section 23-18(2)(a). The minutes state the board drew attention to the fact that the terms "addition" or "building" in Section 23-18 may apply to accessory structures as well, citing Section 23-18(3)(b).

The TRB approved resubmitting its checklists, prepared earlier in 2024, to the Town Clerk for use by town staff. The board also decided to begin its ordinance-review workshops with the ordinance preamble and continue into sections 23:14, 15 and 16. The minutes record a request that the Town Office add "Ordinance Review as time permits" to future agendas.

The minutes list three standing action items: developing a TRB procedures manual (not yet initiated), research into local shed-code requirements assigned to B. Betts (listed in roll call as William Betts), and drafting a definition for "Legacy tree." The minutes indicate some research on sheds has already been done and that the priority on that task was raised.

The board did not take formal legislative action to amend Ordinance 2012-01 at this meeting; the entry records planning and administrative next steps. The TRB will address ordinance language in future workshops and will submit revised checklists to the Town Clerk for staff use.