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Selectmen pleased with initial
zoning re-codification
By Mike Berger
Citizen Staff
Selectmen
Tuesday night said they are pleased with the initial revisions
to the town’s zoning bylaw, a joint project and review by the
Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), the Planning Board, and Building
Commissioner Ed Walsh.
Although the
goal is to present the completed re-codification to town meeting
in April, ZBA member Greg Pando said the process should not be
rushed, but should be complete and thorough. He suggested that
the re-codification be presented at a subsequent town meeting if
it is not ready for this year’s town meeting, which begins
Monday, April 26.
Final approval
of the re-codification will require a two-thirds majority of
town meeting voters.
ZBA member
John Marini said it is important for the public to understand
that the intent of the new codification is not to change zoning,
but to make the bylaws understandable for the average person to
know what he can or cannot do on his property,
“Our job is to
make it easier for the public,” Selectman John Connolly added.
Attorney Paul
Schneiders, who has represented many applicants before the ZBA
and Planning Board, said he is pleased to see the updates.
Schneiders said some of the language in the current bylaw dates
back to 1937 and is “archaic.”
ZBA Chairman
Paul Carroll said the intent was to modernize the bylaw and give
it some legal input. All agreed they have the right person to
help them in Attorney Mark Bobrowski, who represented the town
in its Chapter 40B zoning arguments before the state, and has
helped many communities modernize their zoning bylaws.
Bobrowski
explained some of the revisions, which include setting deadlines
for special permits, defining impacts to the town by special
permit (such as financial, utilities and traffic), setting
performance standards for non-residential projects (pertaining
to lighting, noise, storm water management, pedestrian and
vehicle access, and site development), establishing a section
for Canton’s special overlay districts, and setting definitions
for every zoning term.
The goal, said
Bobrowski, is to have a modern set of bylaws, which is clear,
concise and easy to read and understand.
Selectman
Chairman Sal Salvatori said he is pleased that the revisions
will make the bylaws understandable, clarify the language, and
lessen the ambiguity.
In other news,
Selectman Victor DelVecchio clarified a misconception about the
proposed widening of Dedham Street in regards to the state’s
plan to build a slip ramp off Route 95.
Del Vecchio
said when the state uses the term “Dedham Street corridor” it
does not mean the entire length of Dedham Street, but a stretch
from the slip ramp exit at Shawmut Road to University Avenue.
The state plans to widen that stretch as well as the three
bridges crossing Route 95, the Neponset River and the MBTA
tracks.
In other news:
• Selectmen
held a moment of silence for Josephine D’Amico who worked as a
crossing guard for the Canton Public Schools for 30 years.
• Selectmen
approved a new common victualler license for the New Seoul BBQ
Buffet at 100 Washington Street.
• Selectmen
voted to accept with regret the retirement of Water Department
foreman John Jorgensen, effective June 11. Jorgensen worked for
the town for more than 20 years.
February 4, 2010
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