Bridport Planning Commission

Meeting Agenda

Date: November 14, 2023

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location:  Bridport Town Office

1.    Call to Order

2.    Secretary’s Report

a.    Review minutes of October 10, 2023 meeting

3.    Hearings for Subdivision Applications – None warned

4.    New Business

a.    (6:45) Preliminary subdivision discussion – John Cannon (Adam)

b.    Fish and Wildlife acquisition (Ed)

c.     Converting current regulations’ documents for the 2025 update – what needs to be done? what formats? schedule? etc.? (Renee)

5.    Old Business

a.    Status of past Subdivision Applications and Dates

b.    Modifications to Regulations – interim bylaw vs. amendment, and the July 2023 HOME Act: “The authority to adopt, amend, or repeal a rural town’s zoning bylaw now lies solely with the town’s selectboard.”

c.     Zoning/subdivision regulations – proposed updates (Sharron, Steve)

1.    Permit Applications should include asking for intended land use so Zoning Districts can be updated.

2.    Lot size updating to reflect desire for smaller lot sizes.  Since most lots require a mound system for waste water, larger lots aren't necessary in all residential housing districts.

3.    Update Zoning District maps.  The map on the Town website is not correct.

4.    Change Zoning Regulation wording to remove the requirement that lots be squares or rectangles.

5.    Change road frontage requirements in some Districts to match smaller lot size requirements.

6.    Avoid "right of way" in subdivisions if possible. 4 or more lots on right of way can cause disagreements over maintenance.

7.    Is there a process for making private right of way roads into town roads? Property taxes for those lots could be increased to cover town maintenance cost.

6.    Public Comments

7.    Adjourn

Renée Brodeur, Secretary