LEDYARD, CT — A town committee studying whether Ledyard should separate its Planning and Zoning Commission into two independent boards will examine the financial, administrative and legal implications of the proposal at a meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13.
The Ad Hoc Committee to Evaluate Separation of the Planning Commission and Zoning Commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall Annex, 741 Colonel Ledyard Highway. The meeting will also be accessible through Zoom.
The committee will consider whether the town should retain its existing combined commission or establish separate planning and zoning commissions.
The discussion is expected to include the historical reasons for combining the commissions, possible changes to the Town Charter and ordinances, operating costs, staffing requirements and the effects on land-use applications.
According to the meeting agenda, committee members will review the potential administrative burden of operating two commissions, including additional meetings and legal notices.
They also will examine whether separate commissions would affect the time required to process applications, the efficiency of land-use reviews and the number of volunteers needed to serve on municipal boards.
Other scheduled topics include whether commissioners would benefit from specializing in planning or zoning matters and how the town's Plan of Conservation and Development would be implemented under either structure.
The committee will consider how closely zoning decisions align with the town's long-term planning goals and whether separating the commissions could affect the review of zoning changes and regulations.
Members also are expected to examine whether the existing combined structure has resulted in documented problems, including diminished planning efforts, conflicts of interest, application delays, improper application of zoning regulations or litigation.
The agenda calls for reviewing feedback from other Connecticut municipalities that operate separate planning and zoning commissions, as well as those that use a combined commission.
Under new business, members are scheduled to discuss how to prepare the report they will submit to the Town Council.
The agenda also allows for discussion and possible action on rescheduling the committee's Nov. 10 meeting.
No final recommendation on separating the commissions is scheduled for a vote.
The committee is also expected to consider approval of its Sept. 8 regular meeting minutes and Sept. 17 special meeting minutes.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Town Hall Annex, 741 Colonel Ledyard Highway.
Residents may also attend remotely through the town's Zoom meeting link.
The meeting ID is 858 9458 7125, and the passcode is 116996.
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