The town of Jaffrey has solidified some proposed zoning amendment changes for the coming year.
Planning and Economic Development Director Jo Anne Carr said that the changes proposed are mostly for clarification purposes. With the town working on a Master Plan update, Carr said now is not the time for major changes to zoning districts, setbacks, etc.
“It’s premature for any sweeping changes at this time,” said Carr. “The proposed changes are more language changes than anything.”
Carr said there will be a public hearing during the Planning Board meeting on Jan. 10. If there are no major changes to be had, then potential changes would be moved to go on the Town Meeting ballot for a vote in March.
The proposed changes and exact text of the proposed changes can be found on the town’s website – www.town.jaffrey.nh.us – under the news and announcements section on the right-hand side, or at the Town Clerk’s and Planning offices.
A few of the proposed changes are proposed due to conflicts with other areas of code.
An example of this is under Section IV District Regulations and Permitted Uses, 4.2.7 and 4.3.4, the minimum lot size for an open space development plan has been changed from five acres to ten.
The amendment reduces conflict with Section 13.4 of the Innovative Land Use Plan, which already requires a 10-acre minimum.
Some of the proposed changes are prompted by NH RSAs.
“Special Exceptions authorized by the Board of Adjustment shall be valid if exercised within 2 years from the date of final approval, or as further extended by the Board for good cause, provided that no such special exception shall expire within 6 months after the resolution of a planning application filed in reliance upon the special exception,” reads one of the proposed changes, as prompted by RSA 674:33, which deals with the powers of the Zoning Board.