2007 Proposed Zoning Regulation Changes
Questions may be directed to Tom Jackman, Planning Director at 253-2705. Click here to view entire document of Proposed Changes. Click here - Proposed Boundary Changes The Selectboard is currently reviewing the proposed changes. A public hearing will tentatively be held in February. A notice will be published in the Stowe Reporter.
Proposed 2007 Revisions to Stowe Zoning Regulations Purpose of These Revisions 1. Bring regulations into conformance with the Stowe Town Plan, including the following implementation tasks: · Update town ordinances and programs as appropriate, including but not limited to the town’s bylaws (including TDR, PUD and PRD provisions), public facility ordinances and policies, and the events ordinance. · Continue to administer the Ridgeline & Hillside Overlay District (RHOD) and review its administration and effectiveness to consider the need for improvement. · Review/modify sending and receiving areas for TDR’s. · Consider revisions to the zoning regulations that would preserve the scenic rural qualities of the Route 100 corridors as gateways to the Town. · Consider, in consultation with affected landowners, expanding the Meadowland Overlay District and associated Transfer of Development Rights program to include lands not currently designated as meadowland, including farmland located in the Route 100 corridor. · Review the MRV, MRC, and LVC Districts to consider revising development standards and densities to better achieve the town’s growth goals for these areas · Adopt an historic overlay district, encompassing Stowe Village and the Lower Village, to establish design review guidelines, which ensure that all future development is compatible with the historic character and varied architectural heritage of the Village. · Adopt a historic preservation demolition provision under zoning bylaws to discourage the demolition of buildings designated as contributing structures to the National Register of Historic Places. · Consider expanding existing VR-20 and VR-40 zoning district to include appropriate lands immediately adjacent to Stowe Village. · Prepare a revised sign ordinance that includes standards related to the reduction in size, and more clearly elaborates on the number and lighting of new signs; and consider including provisions to bring all existing non-complying signs into compliance with the revised standards within an established number of years. · Review existing affordable housing density bonuses in the Zoning Ordinance. · Update as needed existing land use regulations which support the creation of affordable housing, particularly in and around Stowe Village and the Lower Village. · Review current zoning regulations and consider changes to allow for the development of one or more mobile home parks in appropriate locations, and to encourage the conversion of existing commercial structures, including functionally obsolete motels and lodges, to multi-family housing. · Encourage the conversion of commercial structures to multi-family housing. · Revise the town’s zoning regulations as needed to ensure that compatible home-based businesses are permitted in appropriate locations in town, including rural districts. · Update bylaws to accommodate day care, residential care and assisted living facilities. · Through the town’s development regulations and driveway (curb-cut) policy, continue to carefully control access to public roads in accordance with appropriate standards. · Review and update as needed existing town policies, bylaws and ordinances to promote energy efficiency and conservation; to protect renewable energy resources and access for their sustainable use. · Adopt adaptive reuse provisions to provide incentives to encourage the upgrade and maintenance of historic barns or other historic structures. · Identify, one or more areas suitable for light industrial use; revise current zoning regulations as appropriate, to include a definition of light industry, and related performance standards. · Consider amendments to the Resort-PUD provision under the existing zoning regulations to ensure protection of rural landowners and residential neighborhoods from potentially incompatible commercial activities outside of designated growth centers. 2. Bring regulations into conformance with revisions to 24 VSA Chapter 117, including: · Public hearing and notice requirements · Accessory Apartments · Group Homes · Childcare Homes · Home Occupations · Protected Public Uses · Appeals and Interested Parties 3. Make the document more user-friendly · Use consistent formatting and terminology throughout text · Delete repetition of verbiage from district to district in text and include a Table of Uses, a Table of Density Standards and Table of Dimensional Requirements · Update permitted and conditional uses for each zoning district · Add a list of exemptions for activities not requiring a zoning permit · Add definitions for terms that appear in the text of the regulations but not in the definition section · Update current definitions 4. Adopt current State of Vermont recommended model ordinance for Flood Hazard Area. 5. Adopt a Fluvial Erosion Hazard Overlay District along the West Branch River to control development in erosion-prone areas along the river. 6. Eliminate parking requirements in VC-10 district to allow for variety and flexibility of businesses and outdoor seating. 7. Add or revise standards for: · Access Management and Frontage Requirements · Lot and Yard Requirements · Lots Lying in More That One Zoning District · Mobile Home Parks · Maximum Building Height · Private Residential Cemeteries · Pond Construction · Planned Unit Development · Certificate of Occupancy · Standards for fences and walls within the SHOD 8. Streamline the permitting process by increasing the authority of ZA in order to reduce the number of applications requiring DRB review: · Allow ZA to approve Change of Use from one conditional use to another when there are no external changes to building and dimensional and parking requirements are met. · Allow for Administrative Approval of some activities within the Ridgeline and Hillside Overlay District (RHOD) and the Stowe Historic Overlay District (SHOD). 9. Provide for an additional zoning enforcement option that would authorize the ZA to write tickets for zoning violations, to be enforced by the Judicial Bureau. Zoning District Boundaries The Planning Commission reviewed all of the zoning district boundaries town-wide and considered two requests to rezone individual properties. After much consideration, the Commission is recommending the following changes, all of which are proposed to enhance the Designated Village Center. (Numbers correspond to map) - Extend the boundary of the LVC to include the former Tubbs Factory building. This will allow a historic nonconforming commercial building to come into conformance and allow for the opportunity of multi-family housing.
- Change area designated as VC-30 on South Main St. to VC-10. Most of the district has been developed to VC-10 standards.
- Change a portion of the area designated as VC-30 on Lower Mountain Road to VC-10, boundary to coincide with the boundary of the designated Village Center.
- Include elementary school/library/Jackson Arena property in VC-10 (currently VR-20), boundary to coincide with the boundary of the designated Village Center.
- Extend the VC-10 boundary along Sunset St. to include all of a commercial parcel that is currently half in the VC-10, half in the VR-20.
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