Visual Zoning
Collin Hayes
How can we make the planning and zoning process more approachable for everyone?
As Chair of the Town Planning Board, I've seen firsthand how challenging and costly the planning and zoning process can be for residents, developers, and prospective business owners. Seemingly simple questions, like how tall you can build or how far back your pole barn needs to be from the road, become incredibly confusing when you're trying to wade through complex legal jargon.
For example, our Town's Zoning Code defines "building height" as:
"The vertical dimension measured from the average elevation of the finished lot grade of the building to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs; to the deckline of a mansard roof and to the average height between the plate and ridge of a gable, hip or gambrel roof."
And "building line" as:
"A line formed by the intersection of a horizontal plane at average grade level and a vertical plane that coincides with the exterior surface of the building on any side. In case of a cantilevered section of a building or projected roof or porch, the vertical plane will coincide with the most projected surface. All yard requirements are measured to the building line."
Clear as mud, right? You shouldn't need a law degree (or a job where you spend all day reading municipal codes, like I do!) to understand the development and zoning process.
Our Town's Zoning Law was adopted in 1992. While it's been amended over the years, I believe it needs a substantial overhaul to make it more user-friendly and approachable for the average applicant. This was one of the recommendations I strongly advocated for including in the Town's Comprehensive Plan when I served on that committee.
One effective way to improve our land use regulations is "visual zoning." Imagine having clear images (like the ones below) alongside the dense legal definitions for concepts like "building height" and "building line." This simple addition can make a world of difference in understanding our laws.
Examples of visual zoning.
If I'm elected to serve on the Town Council, I will continue to strongly advocate for overhauling our land use regulations and bringing these laws into the 21st century. This includes pursuing grant funding and forming a committee of Town residents to review the intent and goals of our development regulations and current enforcement practices.
I believe that making our zoning and land use laws more approachable and easy to understand will save valuable time and money for applicants. This will help make our Town a more business-friendly environment, expanding our tax base, while encouraging the desired pace of growth and types of development that reflect the priorities of our community and the existing character of our neighborhoods.
