SENNETT - What was intended to be a final look at the Town of Sennett's proposed comprehensive plan turned into more necessary revisions when its steering committee met Monday night. The committee will meet once more before the proposed plan is formally presented to the town board.

While the meeting began with nominal revisions, it turned into a discussion of how to deal with non-conforming properties. Members also wanted glossary pages with clearly defined terms added.

The committee agreed to meet again at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, when Bernard Thoma of Thoma Development Consultants said five clean copies of the proposed document would be ready for committee review. A quorum is necessary for the committee to recommend the proposal to the town board.

The complete document will be available to the public on the Sennett Web site after town board approval.

Properties now operating under non-conforming uses were discussed. Wording in the plan suggested reducing the number of non-conforming properties by encouraging owners to request a zoning change with an application.

Town attorney Tom Blair cautioned this method would invite litigation, especially from anyone nearby whose property values might change.

“Non-conforming uses will always be in the town,” Blair said. “You don't want the codes enforcement officer constantly scraping against non-conforming uses.” He noted that the state wants municipalities to reduce the number of non-conforming properties.

“The town wants to be more proactive, but the town wants property owners to be proactive,” Thoma said.

James Lent, Zoning Board of Appeals chairman, said, “We can get the owners to relocate their businesses or to go out of business to end non-conforming use.”

“The intention of the board was to encourage non-conforming owners to work with the town. Incentive packets are one way in which they can work with the municipality,” William Rizzieri said,

The planning committee finally agreed to Lent's suggestion with the following statement: “The town will develop a program and incentive package to encourage reduction and/or relocation of non-conforming uses.”

In other words, property owners would work with the town to either close down a non-conforming property or relocate it with the proper incentive package.

The town retained other provisions discussed earlier. Large lot requirements take precedent over cluster development. Cluster housing only goes where there is already water and sewer.

The town would protect natural resources in certain areas with conservation trusts in developments. The number of residential building lots allowed in a development was reduced to four. Subdivision activity with more than four residential building lots will provide protected space or recreational opportunity within the town.

Route 5 corridor parking lots will follow a formula to keep developers from making commercial lots larger than they need during peak activity, affecting how site plan regulations are drawn up, erring on less rather than more.

Route 20 overlay districts of similar non-conforming properties in a specific zoned area would avoid spot zoning. The hospitality and lodging overlay on Route 20 would allow existing lodging businesses to add accessory uses.

New development coming into town would have to go through a PDD process, subject to tight town control.

The committee will recommend its findings at the next town board meeting March 17, when Thoma will have a completed draft ready to present. After town review, the plan goes to the county for comment. A public hearing is held prior to its adoption.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net