Waterville Valley Planning Board Reviews Zoning Ordinance Amendments

The Waterville Valley Planning Board convened via Zoom to discuss proposed amendments to the town’s zoning ordinances, focusing on compliance with recent state law changes and clarifications to various definitions and uses.

The meeting began with a review of permissive zoning principles, emphasizing that unlisted uses would be prohibited unless a variance is sought. This measure aims to provide legal protection for the town against potential court challenges (link).

A significant portion of the discussion centered on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The board addressed state-mandated changes allowing at least one ADU per property where residential uses are permitted, with restrictions including a maximum size of 750 square feet, shared ownership with the primary dwelling, and prohibitions on separate conveyance or short-term rentals. Concerns were raised about impacts on low-density areas, but the board agreed to comply with state requirements to avoid legal risks (link).

Food service establishments were redefined to align with state standards, incorporating potentially hazardous foods. The board debated exclusions for community and nonprofit fundraising events to ensure activities like church dinners or gazebos remain permissible without undue restrictions. After discussion, the definition was adjusted to exclude such events, maintaining their accessory use status in appropriate zones (link).

Parking requirements were updated per state law, reducing mandates to one space per unit for single-family dwellings, multifamily units, and workforce housing, as well as one space per rental unit for lodging facilities (link).

Sign regulations were briefly revisited, with clarifications that political signs remain unregulated per court rulings, and temporary signs in single-family zones would require permits limited to 28 days maximum (link).

Short-term rentals saw proposed simplifications, eliminating distinctions based on rental duration and incorporating requirements from existing regulations directly into the ordinance for clarity. This includes life safety compliance and prohibitions on using ADUs or recreational vehicles for such purposes. Further review was deferred to consult with the fire chief (link).

The board also addressed minor corrections, such as rezoning River Road from high-density to low-density residential to resolve a mapping error (link).

Finally, the board scheduled a public hearing on these zoning amendments for December 16 at 6 p.m. (link).