Moratorium

This page is an archive of earlier information about the Moratorium.

Public Hearing on Moratorium June 12th

• Read the posted minutes for this meeting here.

• Watch the You tube video of this meeting here.

• Read the Moratorium Petition here.

About the Moratorium: 

Charles Vidich with the support of the Committee to Keep Ashford Rural has submitted a petition for a Moratorium on the PZC considering applications for warehouses, research facilities and functionally similar land uses for a period of 12 months. It is our hope that this will allow the town and PZC to work on strengthening our zoning regulations to better codify what is in the best interest of Ashford for the Interstate Interchange Development Zone. The petition was accepted by the PZC at the May 8th meeting. The public hearing was June 12th at which point the PZC listened to public input. The PZC decided to table the petition and get input from the town attorney. After the close of the public hearing(s) there follows another 65 day period during which the PZC must act. We will keep you informed here as agendas are posted and dates are established. Read the entire Moratorium Petition here.

8/23/2023- Minutes have been posted of the 8/14/ PZC meeting here. There was no discussion of the moratorium at this meeting. The moratorium went into effect on August 1 and will last for 9 months.

7/22/2023- Minutes of the July 12th PZC meeting have been posted here. At this meeting the PZC did vote by 5-4 to approve a moritorium in accepting applications for builidngs in the IID for 9 months. It reads:At their Regular meeting on July 10, 2023, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve the following:

Motion to Approve:
PZ-23-6: Temporary and Limited Moratorium, Section 300-19 (IID Zone): Applicant: C.Vidich

The Commission finds:

1. A temporary moratorium (as modified below) to be appropriate as it will provide an opportunity to examine the current regulations to determine if changes to Section 300-19 are necessary to ensure that the standards contained within Section 300-19 (IID Zone) encourage appropriate development which is in alignment with the Town’s Zoning Regulations, Zoning Map and Plan of Conservation and Development.

2. The specific review items contained within the purpose statement made as part of the originally submitted application are important points for consideration, but the ultimate scope of items to be reviewed during the Moratorium shall be determined at the discretion of the Commission.

This approval is made subject to the following conditions and modifications:

1.This Moratorium shall be modified as follows:
a.To apply only to parcels within the Interstate Interchange Development Zone (IID)
b.To apply to new developments within the IID in excess of 25,000 square feet or more or with more than 50 proposed parking spaces.

2.The effective date shall be August 1, 2023, or 15 days following the publication of this decision, whichever is sooner.
3. Unless otherwise extended by the Commission, this moratorium shall be valid for a period of nine (9) months or until such time as the Commission adopts revised regulations pertaining to Section 300-19, whichever is sooner.