Controversial aspects of subdivisioin regulations changes removed

Agreeing with a recommendation from Planner Bob Ward, the Planning Board last night agreed to strike from its proposed changes to the town's subdivision regulations the provisions that caused such controversy at a public hearing held on April 26. Ward was asked to make the appropriate changes to the overall document and arrange for another public hearing.

Board member Richard Gardner, while agreeing with the changes, said he did not thing another hearing was necessary but Chairman Helmut Busack insisted. "It said I would bring it back for another hearing and that's it," he said.

Gone from the revised regulations will be any reference to private roads. And the portion of regulations dealing with dead end streets will remain as it now reads — dead end streets are allowed so long as they do not exceed 1,000-ft. in length.

Additionally, the reference in the earlier proposal to buildable lots having to be not more than four times as deep as the amount of road frontage available is gone. It was referred to by Busack as a "typo".

Ward proposed a new set of regulations on road widths that would be tied the amount of traffic that would be carried — suggesting four different categories — but the board agreed to put that discussion off to another day. For now the regulation will revert to the status quo — new roads need to be 22-feet wide and be placed in a 50-foot right-of-way.

The remainder of the proposed changes have been described as "housekeeping" measures.