This week the Town Council discussed the Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance. The Council opted to follow town procedure and send the ordinance to the Planning Board for review. The Planning Board responded that they will not discuss the ordinance until the Town Council comes to a consensus of what changes are required.
Town Council Meeting 5/5/2025:
Several residents addressed the Town Council to express concerns regarding Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), citing issues with the existing ordinance’s ambiguity, weak enforcement, and insufficient provisions for affordable housing and environmental protection, as well as the strain new developments place on infrastructure and services like traffic and water. They shared examples of large developments that they believe have not met initial expectations or align with the town’s needs, emphasizing the significant increase in housing units and potential population growth. The councilors discussed the need to review and potentially amend or suspend the PUD ordinance, acknowledging the public’s concerns and the importance of following the proper procedure with the planning board, while also highlighting the need to prioritize addressing traffic concerns.
Planning Board Meeting 5/7/2025
Planning Board member Tony DeFrancesco addressed a point of confusion regarding the requirements for Planned Unit Developments (PUDs), specifically whether a development agreement is always necessary. DeFrancesco explains that regulations state a PUD requires either unified ownership or separate ownership with a development agreement, emphasizing that a development agreement is only mandatory when there are multiple owners. Planning Board Chairman Jake Butler stated he needed a consensus from the Town Council before they would further deliberate on the PUD, expressing uncertainty about what the council’s specific expectations are.