Comprehensive Plan

At Tuesday's Town Hall work session, the Comprehensive Plan Committee delivered a draft vision statement intended to guide an assessment of the planning document, the 15-year-old product of a process begun 20 years ago. Committee Chairman Don Kornrumpf said that the vision statement should answer the question: “Where does this community want to be in 25 years time?”

The committee identified 76 action items within the Comprehensive Plan, “some complicated, some simple,” he said. The action items were put on a spreadsheet and divvied up between the committee members. A report on the status of those actions — whether they have been accomplished, seen no action or are no longer relevant — will go to the board before the committee's charge expires in February 2009. In addition to Mr. Kornrumpf, the committee consists of Paul Mobius, Matt Sherman, Herb Stelljes, Paulette Van Vranken, Mary Wilson and Peter Munson; all attended Tuesday's meeting.

Mr. Kornrumpf noted that some of the planning estimates in the 1993 plan have improved in terms of development impacts. The number of houses at total build-out (when every legal residential lot is developed) has decreased from 3,900 estimated in 1993 to somewhere around 3,200 to 3,300, Mr. Kornrumpf said, the result of a successful town open space program.

An old planning issue identified as needing action is affordable housing. Councilwoman Chris Lewis reported that permit and eligibility applications developed by the Community Housing Commission are nearly ready to go to the public. But housing will not materialize before the Comprehensive Plan work is done, Mr. Kornrumpf noted.

Mr. Kornrumpf said that the town should hold a series of meetings after the committee completes its report on the Comprehensive Plan. “It's essential to involve the people whom it affects. We have to involve the community in the process and have some give and take.”

Geothermal legislation

Revision 6 of legislation to regulate geothermal heating and cooling systems will get some minor adjustments but will soon be available to the public. Councilman Peter Reich, who has led a task force in developing the regulations, hopes to get feedback before setting a public hearing on a final draft of the legislation.

The proposed code establishes restrictions intended to protect the Island's underground drinking water supply from damage by poorly installed geothermal systems. The two types of systems used on the Island pose different threats to the aquifer. Open loop systems pull water from the aquifer that could reduce drinking water available through supply wells. Closed loop systems involve a series of small wells that pull no water, but are so deep that they can penetrate a layer of clay that separates the Island's drinking water from a deeper saltwater layer.

In addition to other stipulations, the legislation would restrict the pumping rate for open loop systems, establish setbacks from drinking water wells and prohibit open loops in the Near Shore Peninsular District where the aquifer is at its thinnest and most susceptible to overdraft. Closed loop systems would be limited in depth and require submission of soil borings to insure that the clay layer is not breached.

Town Attorney Laury Dowd asked, “So you think this will let you have your geothermal without threatening the aquifer?”

“I think so,” Mr. Reich responded. “If anything it errs on the conservative side.” As a case in point, Matt Sherman told the board he would not be able to install the open loop system currently used at his home under the proposed legislation. His pumping rate would exceed the limit set at 15 gallons per minute per home.

Hoot Sherman of the Water Advisory Committee asked, “Are we really making a law that people won't be able to do what they want to do? If so do it in a paragraph” and simply prohibit geothermal systems.

Councilman Glenn Waddington replied, “It seems to me ... half a loaf is better than none. If it takes away the specter of ruining our water table, maybe it's a good compromise.”

During the October 28 work session, the Town Board also discussed:

• Community Development Grant money. Rather than doling out the typical $16,000 in community development money from the county, Ms. Lewis suggested that the board propose a higher cost project that addresses handicap access and recreation by improving the bathrooms at town beaches.

• State and federal funding opportunities. State Legislative Member Item funds could be used to reduce the town's costs for the 4-poster study, Mr. Reich suggested. Federal appropriations may be available in the coming year to reconstruct the bulkhead at Shell Beach, he added.

• ZBA issues. Ms. Lewis relayed requests that the town comment on whether construction hours can be restricted to mitigate neighborhood noise by ZBA resolution. The Town Board consensus: no. The ZBA also requested an interpretation of code limits on the number of accessory apartments and accessory sleeping quarters per property. No number is specified in the code but the Building Department has practiced, and the Town Board agreed, that the code implies use of only one or the other but never more than one accessory unit.

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