The Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) holds Regular Meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month (except in August). Holidays and other circumstances can cause adjustments to the schedule. In addition, Special Meetings may be called. The PZC schedules site walk meetings (generally on Sunday mornings) which is when we visit properties that are subject to pending applications.  All meetings, including site walks, are open to the public to observe.  Public participation/comment is welcome during the Public Hearing portion of our meetings.  (see below).  

Agendas & Minutes

Always check the Town Calendar for the most up to date information on meetings dates, times, locations, and topics. The agenda for an upcoming meeting is typically posted on the Friday before each Tuesday meeting, although it can be delayed or revised through Monday.  Certain adjustments to the agenda may also be made at the meeting, upon a two-thirds vote of Commissioners.

The PZC publishes the meeting minutes online. In addition, video recordings of the meetings can be found on the Town website. The written minutes are considered the official legal record, and are marked unapproved until the Commission has an opportunity to review and approve them in a subsequent meeting. 

Meeting Format & Procedures

It is not uncommon for PZC Regular Meetings to last over three hours. We usually begin with Public Hearings, since those are often the reason for public attendance. After the Public Hearings, the Commission handles its Old Business (anything left unfinished from previous meetings), and finally, its New Business.  

Within each category, multiple items are generally sorted in age order, with the oldest items going first. The Commission is allowed to re-order topics for any reason (e.g. efficiency, to accommodate a planned presenter, etc.). To know the order of topics for any meeting, it is important to check the agenda.  

The PZC was one of the first Town entities to commit to full-hybrid meetings (i.e. allowing two-way interaction in-person and/or via Zoom). Except for weather events or other unusual circumstances, it is our intention to continue this practice.

Public Hearings

Because the PZC has a quasi-judicial role in adjudicating zoning applications, what we hear and discuss related to an application must be on-the-record, in a forum where the applicant and other interested parties are given an equal opportunity to participate. A Public Hearing is that forum for the applicant and often their experts to present their proposal, and for any other interested party to contribute their questions, concerns, evidence, and testimony. Other parties are permitted to bring their own experts, advisors, or representatives. PZC members may question the applicant and/or anyone else who presents testimony or evidence. Beyond Special Permit Applications, the PZC also holds Public Hearings when it considers matters such as regulation amendments, zone changes, etc.  

During the Public Hearing the PZC may also hear reports from its own staff, referral report(s) from other town officials or departments, and consultant(s) report(s) from outside experts the PZC has engaged. Public Hearings for simple matters can take ten minutes, but for complex matters the Public Hearing may take an hour or more, and could be continued through multiple meetings.

If you wish to submit testimony or evidence for the PZC to consider during a Public Hearing, you may appear in person (or via Zoom) at the relevant meeting and time or submit the same in writing via email (before the hearing closes). Anything submitted will be uploaded to the relevant public file, so it is on-the-record for all interested parties. The PZC is not permitted to accept testimony or evidence outside the Public Hearing, or confidentially.