Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship, for the Journal-Opinion
On Town Meeting Day, residents of Corinth will vote on amendments to the bylaws that govern the subdivision of land.
If approved, the amendments would change existing subdivision rules and expand guidelines related to protecting natural resources.
Some town officials see the proposal as a needed update to rules that were last updated nearly a decade ago. But others in town, which has not adopted town-wide zoning rules, are skeptical of increased regulation.
“To one group, it’s about land-use patterns, forests and pastures. To the other group, it’s about freedom — the right to do anything with private property without community input,” said Steve Devoto, a selectboard member and the town administrative officer. “One side wants regulations to preserve the landscape; the other wants no regulations because they see that freedom as the primary facet of rural character.”
Corinth’s bylaws regulate how parcels of land may be subdivided or developed, with the goal of maintaining the town’s rural character, protecting public health and safety and promoting economic growth. For instance, the bylaws try to curb development near historic landmarks and wetlands.
According to Corinth Selectboard Chair Holly Groschner, the proposed amendments seek to clarify the town’s subdivision regulations, which were last changed in 2017 in a townwide vote.
“The first thing it does is clean up difficult-to-interpret provisions that we have been dealing with for years,” Groschner said. “The second thing it does is create clearer standards so people understand what the regulation actually does.”
One change would break major and minor subdivisions into separate categories, assigning specific criteria for the application and review process.
Another major change adds specificity to the criteria related to environmental protection. This would discourage the construction of roads and buildings within 50 feet of wetlands or within 100 feet of prime agricultural land. It would also require new building envelopes to be located within 300 feet of public roads, which would effectively impose a limit on the length of driveways. This was an oversight, according to Corinth Planning Commission Chair Russ Pazdro.
“Many residents expressed they didn’t like that aspect. Because of timing and the way the vote was warned, we couldn’t change it before it went on the [Town Meeting Day] ballot,” he said.
Pazdro said he expects the planning commission to revisit the 300-foot limit.
“My perspective is that if it passes, we will likely take that portion out afterward. If it doesn’t pass, we will alter it and bring it back to be reviewed and voted on at a later date,” Pazdro said.
The Corinth Selectboard approved the amendments to the subdivision bylaws in a meeting on Jan. 12. Residents will vote on the matter by ballot at Town Meeting on March 3.