Published on February 08, 2021

The Town Council agenda for Monday, February 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. has five public hearing items.  The first two, Items #42-2021 and #43-2021, are related to Short Term Rental Amendments and the 2019 Comprehensive Plan Amendment to Recommendation #86.  The two items were referred to public hearing during the January 11 Town Council meeting following over one year of review by the Ordinance Committee, Planning Board, and Town Council.  The key highlights of the amendments include: requiring all Short Term Rental operators to obtain annual permits; establishing primary residency as the primary qualification for being a Short Term Rental operator, with a few exceptions; and establishing a review process which improves the enforcement of the ordinance and assists in conducting substantive reviews of permit renewals. [See February 2, 2021 Article for more detail.]  Town Council Chair Jamie Garvin anticipates the council will hold a vote on the amendments next month during Town Council March 8 meeting.

The third public hearing on the agenda will be Item #44-2021 on the Planning Board recommendation related to Chapter 19 Fence Regulation Zoning Ordinance Sections 19-1-3. Definitions and 19-7-13. Fences and Corner Clearances.  Following a Planning Board public hearing on December 15, 2020 where no member of the public spoke, the following amendments were forwarded to the Town Council for their consideration: Establish a maximum height of 8' for fencing installed within 5' of a property line; and add to the Fence-height definition an allowance of 4” clearance from the ground which is not included in the overall height limit.

The fourth public hearing will be on Item #45-2021 relating to the Town Farm District Parking Amendment in Chapter 19 of the Zoning Ordinance.  The Planning Board forwarded their amendment to the Town Council after holding a public hearing on December 15, 2020 in which no member of the public spoke.  The amendment makes parking on the Town Farm District a permitted use.  The Town Farm District includes the area west of Spurwink Avenue formerly known as the “Poor Farm,” the area extending from Spurwink Ave 100’ to the east, and the Spurwink Marsh, extending to Sawyer Road.

The final public hearing on the agenda is related to Item #46-2021 which forwards to the Town Council the Ordinance Committee’s recommendation to amend Chapter 4, Section 4-1-7 Boards and Committees, Recycling Committee Duties.  The amendment adds establishing policies to manage the Bottle Shed Charitable Program and determine charitable disbursements.

The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom videoconference.  Please use the following link to attend the meeting virtually: Town Council February 8, 2021 Meeting