RR1 District Zoning

The Select Board will hold a public hearing on May 29, 2024 at 6pm to get community feedback on proposed zoning changes for the Rural Residential 1 (RR1).  These changes, proposed by the Planning Commission, are the result of nearly three years of discussion, site visits, and community outreach.  The Planning Commission concluded several months of public hearings on September 13, 2023.  Public comments sparked additional discussion and further revisions, which is why it took until January 2024 to forward the proposal to the Select Board for consideration.

Next Steps:

1. Select Board received a brief introduction to the proposal - February 21, 2024
2. Select Board discussion and possible minor revisions - April 3, 2024
3. Select Board public hearing to get community feedback - May 29, 2024 at 6pm
4. Select Board decides:  a) adopt the revisions; b) make minor changes and hold another hearing; c) return the proposal to the Planning Commission for substantive changes

• See the Regulation Revisions page for the actual proposal language
• See the end of this page for additional background and maps

Have questions?  Interested in a two-minute summary?  Want to know what the proposal means for the development potential of your property?

Contact Alex Weinhagen (Town Planner) - email (aweinhagen@hinesburg.org), phone (802-482-4209), or schedule a time to meet in person.

Proposal

The core of the proposal is dividing the RR1 district into three new zoning districts – each with different priorities and development potential.  Among many changes, minimum lot size and building setbacks have been reduced to add flexibility.  See actual proposal language for a section-by-section list of substantive changes.

Residential 3 (Res-3) - Prioritize housing diversity to address Town and State housing goals. Development potential one acre per home – e.g., a 24-acre parcel could have up to 24 homes.

Residential 4 (Res-4) - Prioritize residential development that identifies natural and cultural resources, providing a transition between the more rural areas and more densely developed areas. Development potential – three acres per home – e.g., a 24-acre parcel could have up to eight homes.

Rural 1 (Rur) - Prioritize ecosystem services and limiting impacts on the natural landscape while retaining development potential that aligns with the adjacent rural zoning districts.   Essentially, make these portions of the RR1 district part of the existing Rural Residential 2 district, and change the name to the “Rural” zoning district.  Create consistent zoning expectations and regulations among Hinesburg’s rural zoning districts – i.e., Agricultural district and Rural district.  Development potential – 10/12/15 acres per home based on quality of public road providing access.  Same system used in the other two rural districts (AG & RR2) - e.g., a 24-acre parcel served by a paved or gravel road could have up to two homes. Maintain the same subdivision allowance for existing properties, such that any existing lot of 12 acres or more has an opportunity to create one new building lot, even if they are under the size needed to meet the 10/12/15 acres per home standard.

Background

The RR1 zoning district is a central portion of Hinesburg, bounded by Route 116 on the west and Richmond Road and North Road on the east, excluding the village growth area.  The district includes very densely settled areas along the Richmond Road that are served by municipal water and/or sewer (e.g., Birchwood Drive neighborhood, Sunset Villa mobile home park).  It also includes lightly settled areas constrained by steep slopes and sensitive natural resources – e.g., Mt. Pritchard area (near St. George border) and Lavigne Hill Road area.

The RR1 zoning district is characterized by a diversity of settlement patterns and natural resources.  However, the current zoning takes a one size fits all approach for the district.  Action item 3.4.1 of the Town Plan recommends that we, “Assess and revise the zoning for the rural portions of the Rural Residential 1 zoning district to reinforce the rural character of these areas – particularly the northern and southern portions of the district.”

Questions or Comments:

Contact Alex Weinhagen (Director of Planning & Zoning) at 802-482-4209, aweinhagen@hinesburg.org, 10632 Route 116, Hinesburg, VT 05461

Lots of interesting maps below to help visualize the overall RR1 district.  For a more interactive map experience, try out the Hinesburg Natural Resources Viewer!  It's our own Hinesburg-specific online mapping website, where you can zoom in and out and turn on/off different kinds of information (aerial photos, roads, parcel lines, etc.).  Find it online here.