Randolph Development Review Board

The Development Review Board is the municipal body that, when required, is authorized and delegated to uphold and interpret the Randolph Zoning Ordinance and Randolph Land Subdivision Control Regulations. It is also the Board authorized to hear appeals from decisions of the Randolph Zoning Administrator and Sign Officer. The Randolph Development Review Board has seven regular members appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The Board may also have two alternate members. The current regular Board members are:

Frank Reed, Chair 728-3163
Joel Tillberg - 728-9089
Emanuel Farrow, 728-3862
Ken Roger - 728-6639
Trini Brassard - 728-5739
Chris Recchia - 728-6024
Alternates: Carmella Cyr & Paul Rea

Development Review Board Meeting Minutes

The Board reviews complete applications for proposed projects at public hearings which are generally scheduled on the last Tuesday of every month. Such reviews may be on site plans, conditional uses, variance requests and/or subdivisions. The regulations set forth the criteria upon which the Board makes its decisions, as described below.

All public hearings must obey the open meeting law. This law does, however, allow quasi- judicial boards, such as the Development Review Board, to deliberate in a closed session. The Board may also reach a decision in a closed session provided the decision reached is put in writing and made public. All written Notices of Decision are posted in the Town Clerk's Office.

All decisions of the Development Review Board may be appealed by the applicant or an interested party. Such an appeal must be made within 30 days of the decision and all appeals are heard by the Vermont Environmental Court.

Site Plan Review Criteria

1. The proposed use, design and layout shall meet the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, other regulations and ordinances of the Town and the Town Plan.

2. The proposed use, design and layout shall be in such a location and of such a size and character that it is in harmony with the appropriate and orderly development of the surrounding area.

3. The proposed use and layout shall be of such a nature that it will not make vehicular or pedestrian traffic hazardous when considering the following factors:
1. Turning movements in relation to traffic flow
2. Proximity and relations to intersections
3. Adequacy of sight distances
4. Location and access of off-street parking
5. Provisions for pedestrian traffic
6. Minimization of pedestrian-vehicular contacts
4. The proposed height and location of buildings or structures, walls and fences, parking, loading, and landscaping shall not interfere with or discourage appropriate development in the use of land adjacent to the proposed site or unreasonably affect its use.
5. All signs shall be in accordance with the Zoning Regulations.

Conditional Use Review Criteria

1. The proposed use shall be consistent with the objectives of the comprehensive plan and the purposes of the Ordinance.
2. The proposed use shall not cause any hazard to health or property through fire, traffic, accident, unsanitary conditions, excessive noise, vibration, odor or other nuisances.
3. The proposed use shall not add a volume of traffic to the highways beyond their reasonable capacity.
4. The proposed use shall have access and exits limited to one location which is sufficiently wide and so related to highways to insure safety and efficiency of circulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
5. Unsightly uses shall be properly screened.
6. An adequate system of surface runoff control shall be provided, if required.
7. A continuous strip not less than six feet wide shall be maintained between the street line and the balance of the lot, which strip shall be suitable landscaped.
8. The proposed use shall not adversely affect the capacity of existing or planned community facilities.
9. The proposed use shall not adversely affect the character of the area.
10. The proposed use shall not adversely affect the traffic on roads and highways in the vicinity of the proposed project.
11. The proposed use shall not adversely affect the bylaws in effect.
12. The proposed use shall not adversely affect the utilization of renewable energy resources.

Variance Approval Criteria

1. There must be unique physical circumstances or conditions, including irregularity, narrowness, or shallowness of lot size or shape, or exceptional topographical or other physical conditions peculiar to the particular property, and that unnecessary hardship is due to such conditions; and not the circumstances or conditions generally created by the provisions of the zoning regulations in the neighborhood or district in which the property is located;
2. That because of such physical circumstances or conditions, there is no possibility that the property can be developed in strict conformity with the provisions of these regulations and that the authorization of a variance is therefore necessary to enable the reasonable use of the property;
3. The unnecessary hardship has not been created by the appellant;
4. The variance, if authorized, will not alter the essential character of the neighborhood or district in which the property is located, substantially or permanently impair the appropriate use or development of adjacent property, reduce access to renewable energy resources, nor be detrimental to the public welfare; and
5. The variance, if authorized, will represent the minimum variance that will afford relief and will represent the least deviation possible from these regulations and the Town Plan.