The Wilton Planning Board has proposed new regulations for the review of proposed office parks, which they may adopt after a public hearing Wednesday.
The new regulations, governing “research and office parks,” could be adopted by the Planning Board following the public hearing, or after revision in response to public feedback received during the hearing. They are regulations, not zoning amendments, and do not have to be voted on by the public. Wilton voted a research and office park district into its zoning ordinance in 2002, and these new rules would apply to applications for those type of developments.
The rules and regulations lay out the process for applying for a business park, but major zoning concerns such as the number of buildings, road frontage, setbacks, height restrictions and what kind of businesses are allowed will still be governed by the rules of the zoning district the lots are in, said Land Use Administrator Michele Decoteau.
The rules allow multiple lots to be considered for a single, comprehensive plan for multiple businesses, or multiple buildings for a single business.
The proposed rules require that anyone applying for an office park submit a general narrative of the design concept, graphic renderings, photographs or models, general information on the proposed exterior materials, description of the proposed signage and lighting and a general landscaping scheme.
During a site plan review process, developers would have to provide an estimate of water demand, whether for public water supply or the use of a drilled well; projection of traffic, including tractor-trailer traffic; ingress and egress to the site; and locations of open areas.
The Planning Board, under the new rules, would review the proposal for “positive and negative development characteristics” and “identify plainly impractical or undesirable development.”
Decoteau said the rules allow the board leeway to work with developers or existing businesses to ensure they have flexibility to grow, without creating a disconnect with the Wilton character.
“We need to maintain the character of Wilton, but it allows them to do things not otherwise currently allowed,” Decoteau said.
Currently, Decoteau said two companies in Wilton that use a model which could benefit from the new rules and regulations are Kimball Physics and Roedel Companies.
During the same meeting, the Planning Board is holding a public hearing for two proposed amendments to the town’s zoning ordinance, which will be voted on by the public this March.
Both amendments are considered “housekeeping” items that do not have an impact on the zoning rules. The proposed changes include grammar corrections, including references to sources for information, and correcting cross-reference numbers to other sections of the ordinance.
The public hearings are scheduled to be held back-to-back on Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative High School Cafeteria. Masks are required.
Zoning amendments are expected to be voted on at the polls as part of Town Meeting. The research and office park district regulations may be adopted by vote of the Planning Board.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.