Town seeks zoning comments

Next week, Orange citizens have a chance to comment about proposed up-zoning changes to their property. The changes could affect as many as 270 properties within the town.
For the past two years, the Orange Town Planning Commission has been looking at ways to revise the 2001 Zoning Ordinance and Zoning District Map to better implement the goals and objectives in the 2006-2026 Comprehensive Plan. To do this, the commission drafted a new framework for the ordinance replacing the old zoning districts with "traditional character" districts which would allow for a wider variety of uses.
Currently, property largely is zoned simply residential, commercial or industrial. According to Orange Town Planner Joshua Bateman, the planning commission is attempting to apply the new districts to develop a new zoning district map. This means some property owners may see changes in how their property is zoned-without requesting rezoning.
Last month, residents that may find their property "down zoned," reclassified for less intensive uses, by the zoning changes were given the chance to comment on the changes. Next week, residents who may have their property "up zoned," reclassified for more intensive uses will have the chance to comment on the changes. An example of "up zoning" would be a property that is currently zoned for single-family use being reclassified as multi-family, or one that is zoned residential being rezoned to industrial.
Bateman said he hopes property owners will speak out about the proposed zoning changes which will allow the planning commission to discover trends for possible changes. He said the planning commission will use the comments and suggestions to consider modifying the proposed zoning district boundaries in areas where doing so will better reflect the existing system of land uses, desired future land uses and the community's wishes.
Letters have been sent to all affected property owners inviting them to speak during the planning commission meeting March 22 at 7 p.m. in the public works community room on Warren Street in Orange.