By NEAL RENTZ
The Lewisboro Town Board is continuing its discussion of proposed zoning amendments, including a proposal to create a floating zone for affordable senior housing.
The board, which met on March 3, is also poised to vote on the first series of proposed zoning amendments later this month.
The zoning amendments are being proposed in conjunction with the update to the town’s comprehensive plan, which was approved last year by the town board following years of work by the comprehensive plan steering committee, which held several meetings to listen to residents’ comments.
Work on the zoning amendments continued this week as the town board reviewed such elements as two new proposed chapters — excavation and fill and steep slopes, as well as a new table of uses.
The senior housing floating zone proposal would be part of the review of the current Chapter 220 titled zoning. Attorney Christian Gates, who is working with the town, said at this week’s meeting that the floating zone “allows the town board to adopt a local law amending the zoning map of the town and it would essentially create a floating zone that allows there to be senior housing in different areas. So, it would actually overlap with existing zones, but it’s kind of a new zone that’s also allowed within that area.”
The floating zone is “a very flexible and versatile zoning and land use development tool that many municipalities have,” Gates said.
Councilman Richard Sklarin asked Gates where senior housing could be limited in town if the floating zone was adopted. Gates said senior housing could be proposed for any zone in town, but added, “You have to meet certain criteria” including lot size to be considered by the town board.
The floating zone would be a legislative vehicle for the town board, which would need to decide if a property qualifies for senior housing, he said.
A developer would need to be the catalyst for an affordable senior housing proposal, “if it ticks all the boxes” of the town’s requirements for such housing, Councilwoman Andrea Rendo said.
The senior housing floating zone is “a very proactive approach to zoning instead of being more restrictive,” Gates said.
Among the other potential zoning amendments the town board discussed was a proposal to revise requirements regarding landfilling, regrading and removal of earth material, Supervisor Tony Gonçalves said in a follow up interview. The town board is seeking language “to include a sliding scale trigger for permit requirements which would dictate the cubic feet of fill triggering the need for a permit according to parcel size,” he said. That revised item would “most likely” be moved from Chapter 220 (zoning) to the new Chapter 115 the board is considering.
Another zoning amendment the town board is considering is a table of use regulations for all zoning districts.
“It’s very helpful,” Gates said. “It helps staff and residents and applicants to just pull up one document and see what’s allowed and what isn’t or, if it’s allowed, do I need a special permit?”
The chart is broken down into categories: residential uses, community uses, utility uses, agricultural uses and commercial and business uses. For each category the chart lists the town’s property zones and those who read the chart can learn if it is a permitted use, an accessory use or if the development would require a special use permit from the town board, planning board or zoning board of appeals, Gates noted.
The public hearing on some of the proposed zoning amendments will continue at the March 10 town board meeting.
Gonçalves said this week the town board is set to vote on some of the proposed amendments at the end of the month.
“We agreed that based on all prior reviews and the fact that there were no substantive changes, to move forward with local law adoption at our March 24 meeting,” he said.
Those amendments include architecture and community appearance review council, sidewalks, subdivision regulations, and wetlands and watercourses.