Town of Wardsboro Planning Commission
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Date: April 28, 2025 7:00 PM
RE: Proposed Amendments to Wardsboro Zoning Bylaw and Zoning District Map
Location: Town Hall at 99 Main Street, Wardsboro
Online: hitps://meet.goto.com/775934853
Phone: 1 877 309 2073
Access Code: 775-934-853
The purpose of the Hearing is to gather public comment on the proposed amendments to the Wardsboro Zoning Bylaw. The Planning Commission solicits comment from planning commissions of abutting municipalities and from the regional planning commission with respect to the compatibility of their respective zoning bylaw with the proposed amendments to the Wardsboro Zoning Bylaw and Zoning District Map.
The purpose of the proposed amendments to the Wardsboro Zoning Bylaw is to update the Bylaw to align with: current Vermont statutes relating to the Home Act of 2023 end Act 1 81 of 2024 and penalties for zoning violations; changes to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture definitions and requirements for farms; federal flood hazard area regulations; and Vermont river corridor regulations to be effective in 2028. Another purpose is to add clarity to sections of Article I by including statutory language with references to Vermont statute numbers in the bylaw. The purpose of the proposed amendments to the Wardsboro Zoning District Map is to align the district boundaries with the Wardsboro Town Plan and Maps relating to high priority forest blocks and travel corridors.
The affected zoning bylaw article and section numbers include:
Article I Administration and Procedures
124.n. Activities Not Requiring a Zoning Permit
132.1 c. Application
134 Violations and Penalties
145.a. and b. Additional Conditions
147.2e.and f. Specific Conditional Use Standards
151 Site Plan Approval
151.5g. and h. Specific Site Plan Review Standards
Article Il District Use and Intensity Regulations
231.1 Buildings and Uses on Lots
241.2c, 242.2c, 243.2c, 244.20, (and asterisk statement) Permitted Uses
Article Ill General Regulations
318.a-h. Accessory Dwelling Units
341 Division of a Lot into Two or More Lots
380 Off-street Parking and Loading Requirements
386 Parking Space Requirements
387.1 a-c. Residential Uses
Article IV Special Provisions
444. public Facilities
Article V Flood and Fluvial Erosion Hazard Regulations (the entire article)
510 Intent and Application of Regulations 520 Lands to Which These Regulations Apply
530 Administration
540 Permit Application Guidelines
550 Development in Regulated Flood Hazard Areas
560 Technical Provisions
570 Enforcement and Penalties
580 Variances
590 Definitions
Article Vll Definitions
Accessory Dwelling Unit; Agricultural Use; Agricultural Structure; Dwelling, Two-Family; Emergency Shelter; Equestrian Facility; Farm Structure; Interested Person; Mylar; Plat
Proposed changes from current district designations on the Wardsboro Zoning District Map to conservation district include: resource residential district around Gault Rd. and extending northward into part of a rural residential district in a water resource area along the border with Newfane; town forest near Dump Rd.; National Forest Service parcels extending beyond Potter Rd. and including resource residential district of two privately conserved parcels; resource residential district south of Potter Rd. extending from National Forest Service parcels to South Wardsboro; and a narrow section of rural residential in the southwest corner of Wardsboro, along the western border with Stratton, crossing Route 100 and extending into an area of a resource residential district away from Route 100 and south of village areas.
Proposed Amendments for Articles I, Il, Ill, IV, and VII are attached herewith.
The full text of amendments to the Wardsboro Zoning Bylaw, including Article V, and the Zoning District Map may be viewed on the Town website at https://wardsborovt.gov/or at the Wardsboro Town Office during regular business hours.
Please see News post on May 13th for updated amendments and maps. Original amendments & map may still be obtained from the town office.