HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB ZAG 2025-04-03Zoning Focus Meeting 4/3/25
Minutes APPROVED 6-5-25
Attendees
PB: Tony, Bill, Chris, John
Staff: Ray, Joy
CPEA: Nan
ZAG: Martha (Housing), Marie (Climate), Evan (Ag), Doug (Ag), Janice (ZBA), Nancy
(Conservation)
TB: Dan, Spring
Meeting Purpose: Review and Edit the Zoning Update Phase 1 Project Plan Scope
1. We acknowledged that the PB lacked an in-person quorum (Tony was via
ZOOM) but agreed to proceed with the meeting anyway, acknowledging that we
just can’t vote on anything.
2. The TB authorized release of an agreement with CPEA to prepare the Phase 1
zoning update. We need to complete the Phase 1 Project Plan Scope (Appendix 2
of the agreement) prior to release.
3. Following is a summary of changes to the scope document resulting from the
review/edit discussion. John will make the changes to the document and
distribute it prior to the next meeting.
Page 1: Purpose of Zoning Update: Make it clear that we want to increase the amount
of housing in Dryden in addition to adding to diversity of housing and other
land uses.
Page 4: Clarify that accessory structures can not be located in required setback areas but
otherwise are permitted. (Add the word required.)
We discussed confusion over how to handle projections from buildings (decks,
porches, etc) into setback areas. Nan asked us to clarify what we want and she
will include it the Phase 1 update. Janice agreed to draft proposed language.
Martha presented clarifications on definitions:
Affordable Housing: Definition should emphasize permanent/durable
affordability, eg, 30 years.
Add Workforce Housing (assuming the term is then used in the
subsequent articles in the ordinance).
Page 5: Definition of Data Center: Change the last sentence: ……principle use is AI
and mining of crypto currency.
Zoning Advisory Group Meeting
Minutes 4/3/25
Change Item 2: Nan noted that Dryden’s zoning map has one LI district and the
reference to “one (data center) per district” should be clarified that we want to
limit data centers to one in each of Dryden’s two areas designated as LI.
Change Item 5: CPEA to review the noise ordinance (270-13.7) to be sure it
includes Data Centers and defines unreasonable noise as more that just
unreasonable sound intensity (db) compared to ambient, eg, time of day,
spectral makeup.
Chris noted that criteria for SUP approval must include visual screening of data
center equipment and compliance with exterior lighting requirements. These
are covered in 270-9.10 and 270-9.11.
We all agreed to forward the draft Data Center language to the TB for their
review/approval.
Page 7 The bulleted sentence in the middle of the page should end with a colon to be
clear that it refers to the items that follow the sentence.
We noted that Dryden’s Solar Energy Systems ordinance (270-13.12) allows
BESS as an accessory use but does not define or regulate it. We agreed that the
new BESS ordinance should cover BESS as an accessory use to Solar Energy
Systems and treat it the same as a stand-alone BESS facility.
We agreed that BESS site selection should follow Solar relative to avoiding
prime agricultural lands.
We all agreed to forward the draft BESS language to the TB for their
review/approval.
Page 8 Under Item 5 Mobile Homes, Ray noted that Dryden’s zoning does not allow
recreational vehicles to be used as permanent housing. Ray said zoning is
vague on temporary use, eg, to house a family while their house is under
construction or repair. We agreed the dwellings that are on wheels (and not on
a permanent foundation) should not be allowed as a permanent residence.
Nancy noted that, for some Dryden residents, an RV might be all they can
afford for their permanent residence. (jak note: The term “recreational vehicle”
does not appear in Dryden’s zoning. When we remove Chapter 183 Mobile
Homes we will need to add the definition and prohibition for permanent
residential use.)
4. We will continue the review of the Phase 1 scope at our next meeting, on May 1.
When we are finished with the review we will forward the scope document with
revisions to the TB for their review/approval. Then we can include it as Appendix
Zoning Advisory Group Meeting
Minutes 4/3/25
2 in the CPEA agreement and execute the agreement. Next meet we will pick up
where we left off on Item 6 at the bottom of Page 8.
4/4/25 jak