Agenda - Planning Commission - 08/05/2010

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Zoning Bulletin May 25, 2010 j Volume 4 I No. 10 Zoning News from Around the Nation ARIZONA The state Senate recently passed legislation, H2596, which prohib- its "a government entity from implementing any zoning regulation that would impose an `unreasonable burden' on a person's exercise of reli- gion." "Unreasonable burden" is defined as "preventing someone from using his or her property `in a manner that the person finds satisfactory to fulfill the person's religious mission." In other words, the legislation prohibits municipalities from limiting churches from any location in which other nonreligious organizations are allowed —except under lim- ited exceptions. The bill now awaits action from the House. Source: Arizona Capitol Times; http://azcatitoltimes.com ILLINOIS Pontiac's Planning and Zoning Board recently approved an amend- ment to the city's comprehensive plan, which would "ban the develop- ment of wind farms within the city's zoning jurisdiction, including a 1 ' mile radius surrounding the corporate limits." Source: Pontiac Daily Leader; www.pontiacdailvleader.com MASSACHUSETTTS Articles to be considered at Wenham's next town meeting include three articles "related to meeting the criteria for becoming a Green Com- munity." The first of those articles requests amendment of the town bylaws "by adding expedited permitting, not to exceed 12 months for earth removal and water resources protection, to the relevant sections of Wenham's zoning bylaw." The second requests an amendment to the town's Zoning Bylaw "to add a solar energy overlay district, for place- ment of large solar arrays in 250 KW facilities, requiring at least 20 acres and specific amounts of vegetation control." Also, the third "pro- poses adoption of the Stretch Energy Building Code, a higher standard for energy, which will become the required standard in three years." Source: Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle; www.wickedlocal.com Worcester's city administration "is proposing sweeping changes to the local regulations governing the use and siting of all types of signs in the city." A draft ordinance is being considered, which, among other things would: establish "standards for signs with digital display, including regu- lation of message transitions, brightness, spacing and size"; differentiate "between digital display and motion signs"; create "three sign overlay districts where billboards would be prohibited"; allow for a "special per- mit process [that] is intended to provide flexibility for large commercial © 2010 Thomson Reuters 11 159