Jericho panel debates narrowing triggers for required Planned Unit Developments

Town Planner Chris Shaheen presented a staff recommendation to make PUD review mandatory only when three specific criteria coincide: the project is a major subdivision (four lots or more), it is located in one of the specified zoning districts (Low-Density Residential, Rural Agricultural/Residential, Forestry), and mapped site resources are present.

Shaheen summarized the approach: "a required PUD would be for a site that has three factors that all line up and they are: continue to use the major subdivision with four lots or more, continue to focus on the zoning districts where there is an open space component that we might want to have, and add the presence of a site resource." Commissioners debated the trade-offs. Sarahjane Dube said narrowing triggers could conflict with Enable Housing goals to promote infill and smaller lot development, while Erik Glitman and Wendy Verrei emphasized PUDs' role in protecting open space and enabling clustered development that can raise overall housing yield.

The Commission discussed which mapped resources should count as site resources and whether some resource lists (e.g., slopes greater than 25%, prime agricultural soils, vernal pools) would capture most properties in specific districts. Commissioners asked staff to workshop clearer, measurable criteria and return with a refined draft rather than adopt changes tonight.