Hinesburg is holding a town-wide vote on rural area zoning changes on Tuesday. These same changes were passed by the select board in September, but a petition was submitted requesting a town-wide vote. The changes primarily affect the most rural zoning districts in Hinesburg, including agricultural zones and rural residential areas designated "RR2."
According to a document written by Hinesburg Director of Planning and Zoning Alex Weinhagen, the changes address three main objectives:
- Expand Allowed Uses – Expand the list of allowed uses to better enable innovative farm/forest based operations not currently allowed. Think value?added agricultural, diversified farms and forest land, event hosting, and agri?tourism.
- Improving Design Standards ? Guide development within Hinesburg’s rural areas while preserving important resource areas. Clarify regulations and support the process with better definitions and mapped features. ... The new zoning clarifies what resource areas must be considered, and where they are located.
- Defining Development Density – Add lot size flexibility and clearly define maximum development potential.
The proposed changes are a departure from the current two-acre minimum lot size in Hinesburg. Weinhagen argues the new rules will allow for more thoughtful development.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Hinesburg Town Office on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
