To the editor:
Peterborough residents, was your property rezoned in 2017 when the Traditional Neighborhood Overlay Zone II (TNOZ II) was passed?
If you own property in any residential district (Family, General Residence, Rural, West Peterborough — except TNOZ I) and you are on water and sewer, then your zoning was effectively changed, without direct notification to you.
The permitted uses, minimum requirements, and increased density of TNOZ II supersede and override those of all other underlying residential districts!
Minimum lot size is 5000 square feet (about an eighth of an acre); minimum side and rear setbacks are merely 5 feet; and front setbacks can be as little as 2 feet. Is this what you want for your neighborhood and adjacent Rural land?
In addition, if you own property in a residential district currently not served by water and sewer, the TNOZ II ordinance states that a developer who is willing to pay to extend sewer and water, with approval of the DPW Director, can thereby extend TNOZ II into your district, whether an already established neighborhood or undeveloped Rural parcels.
There is no provision in the ordinance for notification of abutters or neighbors to weigh in on this decision, even though there may be a cost to them. The urbanized density standards of TNOZ II will then apply to their properties as well.
There is no map of TNOZ II, no delineated boundaries, and no listing of parcels affected. When TNOZ II was voted on, not even a map of existing water and sewer lines was provided. Although the public was never informed at the time of voting, TNOZ II is a “floating” zone. It gets defined and expands by the extension of water and sewer (linear sprawl), and not by transparent community planning. It becomes the tail wagging the dog!
Please vote YES on Zoning Amendment 15 to repeal TNOZ II and to improve TNOZ I. Protect the character of your neighborhood and Our Town!
Loretta Laurenitis
Peterborough