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Commission
Descriptions
Zoning
Commission
The
Zoning Commission, generally meets the third Monday of the month (except
January, February and November when the meeting date varies). Per Connecticut
General Statues the zoning commission can:
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Regulate the height, number of stories, maximum size of structures,
the location of the structure and the total area of the lot that may
be occupied.
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Regulate the height, size and location of advertising signs.
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Establish, change or repeal local zoning regulations and districts.
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Hear, consider, and decide upon petitions for changes in the local zoning
regulations, zoning district boundaries, and requests for special exceptions
in accordance with the zoning regulations.
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Establish and administer regulations providing for special exemptions
from density limits for construction of affordable housing (as defined
by state law)
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Planning
Commission
The
Planning Commission generally meets the second Thursday of the month.
Per the Connecticut General Statues the planning commission:
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Must prepare, amend and adopt a plan of conservation and development,
showing the commission's recommendation for the most desirable use of
land for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial and other
purposes at least once every ten years.
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Must review and may make recommendations on all proposed municipal improvements,
such as street locations or changes; public schools, parks and utilities;
and public housing developments.
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May establish, change or repeal regulations for the subdivision and
resubdivision of land.
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Determines whether the existing division of any land constitutes a subdivision
or resubdivision.
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Hears, considers, and decides upon applications for approvals of the
subdivision or resubdivision of land.
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The commission may waive certain requirements of the subdivision regulations
when deciding upon applications for subdivision or resubdivision where
special conditions exist, in accordance with standards and criteria
set forth in the zoning regulations but only if the waiver will not
adversely affect adjacent property with respect to public health and
safety.
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Inland
Wetlands and Watercourses Commission.
The
Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, generally meets the second
Tuesday of the month. The IWWC:
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Establishes, change or repeal inland wetlands and watercourses regulations
and boundaries of inland wetlands and watercourses. Tidal wetlands are
excluded from municipal regulations and are regulated by the CT Department
of Environmental Protection.
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Hears, consider and decide upon applications for regulated activities
involving inland wetlands and watercourses and/or the regulated upland
area to a wetland. Determine whether proposed activities are exempt
from, or otherwise not subject to, the regulations. In Essex, the commission
reviews activities that are within 60' of a wetland and within 100'
of a waterbody or water course.
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Takes appropriate actions to enforce the inland wetlands and watercourses
regulations and any permit conditions.
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Delegates to the authorized agent the authority to approve or extend
an activity that is not located in an inland wetland or watercourse.
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Hears appeals of any decision of its agent to issue a permit, and to
sustain, alter, or to require that an application be made directly to
the commission.
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Zoning Board of Appeals
The
Zoning Board of Appeals usually meets on the third Tuesday of the month.
The specific powers and duties to the Zoning Board of Appeals are:
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Hear, consider and decide upon appeals when it is claimed that there
is an error in any order, requirement or decision of the Zoning Enforcement
Agent (ZEA)
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Determine and modify the application of the zoning regulations in harmony
with their general purpose and intent. Variance power allows the board
to excuse a landowner from complying with one or more zoning regulation.
This power may be used only with respect to a parcel of land having
unusual conditions. In legal terms, the condition must cause "exceptional
difficulty or unusual hardship." (such as a huge out cropping of
ledge or the historic sitting of a building)
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