Colchester Planning Commission

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The Planning Commission:

Generally, the Commission meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM. Meetings are held at the Town Offices in the Outer Bay Conference Room, 3rd Floor. There are sometimes adjustments to this schedule due to holidays and scheduling conflicts. Those adjustments will be published in advance with as much notice as possible. Please always refer to the agendas for the most accurate meeting date. 

The Commission's primary responsibilities include:

    • Overseeing revisions to the Town Zoning Regulations
    • Undertaking planning studies for the long-term growth of Colchester (updating the open space plan is possible during this term)
    • Updates to the Town Plan 

The Commission has a written policy for considering zoning change requests. See this adopted policy for more information. 

Members

  • Rich Paquette, Email Chair 
  • Sarita (Sarah) Austin
  • Wendy Critchlow
  • Rebecca Arnold
  • Vladimir Smirnov
  • VACANT (Youth)

Further information on the Commission can be obtained by contacting Cathyann Larose, Director of Planning and Zoning at 802-264-5602 or the Department of Planning and Zoning.


Agendas & Minutes

Click here for Agendas and Minutes


Meeting Videos

View the meeting live at 7PM (generally) the first and third Tuesday of the month.

View web broadcasts of previously held meetings.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR AMENDING DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS?


The process for amending the Development Regulations is transparent and allows multiple opportunities for comment:

Planning Commission (PC) Review 

• The PC will often hold one or more public but informal meetings to discuss a topic

 • The PC must then warn and hold at least one public Hearing

• A report shall be prepared indicating how the proposal meets Section 4441(c) 

• The public hearing must be warned 15 days prior to the meeting and copies of the amendment sent certified to all abutting towns, the regional planning commission, and State dept of housing and community affairs

• The Commission then submits the amendment to the Selectboard

Select Board Review

• Not less than 15 days nor more than 120 days after a proposed amendment is submitted to the Selectboard, the Board shall hold a warned, public hearing

• The Selectboard may make changes to the proposed amendment but shall not do so less than 14 days prior to a second public hearing (therefore you can make changes after the first public hearing but not after the second public hearing without warning a new hearing)

• If any part of the proposal is changed, the Selectboard, at least 10 days prior to the second public hearing, the Board shall file a copy of the proposed change with the Town Clerk and with the Planning Commission. The PC can submit comments at or prior to the public hearing on the proposed changes.

• The amendment needs to be adopted by a majority of the members of the Selectboard and can be adopted at any time following the close of a public hearing

• The regulation is effective 21 days after adoption date and a signed copy shall be filed with the Town Clerk

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Proposed Updates to the Development Regulations

On July 1, 2025, the Colchester Planning Commission held a warned Public Hearing on a series of amendments to the Development Regulations. These amendments have since been delivered to the Colchester Selectboard and have now been warned for a Public Hearing. Pursuant to Title 24 VSA, Chapter 117, the Colchester Selectboard will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 6:35 P.M. at the Colchester Town Offices, 781 Blakely Road, for the purpose of considering amendments to the Colchester Development Regulations. The proposed amendments, referred to as Supplement 48, are as follows:

a. Density Calculations [§2.04-G]

b. Replacement of non-conforming structures damaged by fire or natural disaster [§2.12-B (2)]

c. Rebuilding of Unpermitted Structures and Non-conforming Structures [§2.12-C]

d. Updates to GD3/Form-Based District [§4.03-H, Table 4-2]

i. Front setback building placement for ‘A’ Streets

ii. Accessory and maintenance structures

e. External PUD setback waivers [§9.07-D, Table 9-1]

f. Buffer requirements for non-residential PUDs [§9.07-D, Table 9-2]

g. Home Businesses [§10.13-B]

h. Amendments to Table A-1, Section 1.113

i. Define footprint for areas outside the Shoreland District [§12]

j. Amend definition of ‘Restaurant’ [§12]

k. Minor changes for purposes of clarity

l. Miscellaneous formatting or other non-substantive changes