P&Z Commission Eager to Tackle Revisions of Town Regulations

The following is a press release issued by the Planning & Zoning Commission:

The Monroe Planning and Zoning Commission kicked off the long awaited process of comprehensive zoning regulations revision on July 26th at their regular business meeting. The commission met with recently hired BFJ Planning to discuss timelines, priority issues and commissioners recommendations.

BFJ Planning is the same group which was the Commission's consultant for the 2010 Plan of Conservation of Development (POCD). BFJ will again be represented by Frank Fish and Todd Okolichany who worked on the Monroe 2010 POCD. Project manager for the regulations revision process will be Melissa Kaplan-Macey.

Monroe's regulations are largely unchanged since the 1970's. Over the past three decades Monroe has had tremendous growth in its residential and business zones. New regulations will streamline application procedures, improve definitions, mapping of districts, address residents concerns on earthworks and other issues which have been identified by commission members, town staff and property owners.

"The commission is excited to tackle this monumental undertaking. Our goal is to have new regulations as close to February 2013 as possible and that our process will be open to and inclusive of the public as the regulations belong to all property owners." Said acting Chairman Patrick O'Hara.

The Commission has scheduled a September 13 meeting to review work to date from BFJ and plan for the first public workshop. On September 27th there will be a public workshop where BFJ will review the revision process and potential changes as recommended by the 2010 POCD with residents. Both meetings will be noticed with exact time and place. A second public workshop is anticipated for November where the commission anticipates a set of draft regulations and zoning map.

"We anticipate a new section under P&Z at monroect.org to carry updated information on the regulations revision process," O'Hara said.