Zoning regs to get hearing in September

WINSTED >> Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission informally decided Monday evening to finalize the new town zoning regulations during their next meeting, then pass them along for public consideration and comment in September.

The commission has been engaged in crafting the new zoning regulation for some months, working in concert with Graydon Land Use, which was hired last May to undertake the effort.

The new regulations include

seven zone classifications, as described in a May draft available on the town website, reduced from 26 in the current edition.

These are: town singlefamily; town center residential; town center; town gateway; production and innovation; rural residential; and Highland Lake district.

A classification concerning “the small cluster of businesses located at the north end of Highland Lake” has subsequently been added, as contained in documentation distributed Monday, which is “designed to promote the character of the area and limit incompatible land uses.”

The commission approved minor changes to the document put forward by Town Planner Steven Sadlowski during its meeting Monday, including “removing single and two family uses” from the town center zone and adjusting setbacks in the Highland Lake business district.

The group informally discussed finalizing the regulations at its August 11 meeting, then holding a public hearing on the regulations September 20.

The latter date is subject to change, depending on the availability of Sean Suder of Graydon, who is expected to be a part of a presentation made to residents about the new regulations at that time.