PLANNING & ZONING DEPARTMENT

Michael E. Brands, AICP Town Planner & Administrative Officer (802) 457-3456 (802) 457-2329 (Fax) mbrands@townofwoodstock.org		Forms &  Worksheets: Permit Application   one size fits all        ........................ New Construction Checklist ........................ Commercial WORKSHEET ........................ Commercial Conditional Use Support Statement GUIDELINES ........................ Conditional Use - Commercial SUPPORT STATEMENT ........................ Village Design Review Checklist & WORKSHEET ........................ Village Signs WORKSHEET ........................ Village Home Occupation WORKSHEET ........................ TOWN sign WORKSHEET ........................ TOWN Home Occupation WORKSHEET ........................ Town Home Enterprise WORKSHEET ........................ Conditional Use - Overlay FORM ........................ Scenic Ridgeline WORKSHEET ........................ Request For Variance Form ........................ Creating a New Apartment ........................ Procedure for Appeals ........................
Renee L. Vondle Assistant Zoning Administrator (802) 457-3456 (802) 457-2329 (Fax) renee@townofwoodstock.org
The Planning & Zoning office is located on 2nd floor of the Town Hall, first door on the left. The Planning & Zoning Department is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Village and Town Zoning Regulations, ongoing land use planning efforts, grant preparation and administration and maintenance of this web site.  The Planner/Administrative Officer works with the Planning Commission in developing the Town Plan and the Village/Town Requlations which must be re-adopted every five years.  The department also is the administrative and technical support for the Design Review Boards, Development Review Boards and Conservation Commission. The department is staffed by a full-time Planner/Administrative Officer and a full-time Assistant Zoning Administrator. The department reviews all applications and assists the public in understanding the ordinances and helping them through the permit process.  The Administrative Officer is also responsible for taking action on all known zoning violations. Last, the Planner/Administrative Officer is charged with securing grants relating to planning-related projects. Michael E. Brands, AICP, is in his twenthieth year as the Town Planner and Administrative Officer.  In addition he works with eight different commissions and boards. He also consults with Two Rivers Outtauquechee Regional Commission regarding GIS maps, studies, transportation issues and obtaining regulatory advice.  This year the department has been assisting TRORC with the new 911 system. The Administrative Officer approves applications which do not need a hearing, such as additions, new home construction, accessory buildings, fences and signs to name a few.     Renee is in her sixth year of service as the Assistant Zoning Administrator.  Both Michael and Renee are happy to assist property owners and other members of the public.

UNDERSTANDING OUR BOARDS: The Village of Woodstock has both a Design Review Board and a Village Development Review Board (VDRB). The Design Review Board consists of five volunteer board members and meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 4:00 P.M. in the conference room at Town Hall. The Design Review board is a recommendation board that reviews completed applications according to the Criteria for Approval (Section 405F of the Village Zoning Regulations) and issues their recommendation to the VDRB. The Village Development Review Board consists of seven volunteer board members and meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. in the conference room at Town Hall. The VDRB hears both Design Review applications and Conditional Use applications as well as applications pertaining to Site Plan Review, Access Review, Nonconforming Structural Review, Scenic Ridgeline Review, Subdivisions, Variance and Appeals of Administrative Decisions. The Town of Woodstock also has a Design Review District in the Village of South Woodstock (see town zoning map with Design Review boundary delineations). The South Woodstock Design Review Board consists of three volunteer board members and meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 P.M. in the South Woodstock Fire Department building (only when there are pending applications). The Town Development Review Board (TDRB) consists of seven volunteer board members and meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. in the conference room at Town Hall. The board is responsible for reviewing all Conditional Use, Conservation District Overlay (Scenic Ridgeline, Floodhazard,Wetland & Hydric Soils), Site Plan Review, Access Review, Nonconforming Structures, Variances,  Subdivisions and Appeals of Administrative Decisions. Copies of approved zoning permits and Notice of Hearings (applications pending) are posted on the board at the entrance of Town Hall.  Administrative permits are posted for 15 days and all other permits are posted for 30 days. Effective July 1, 2007, permits for all septic systems, new and replacement, are issued by the State of Vermont District Environmental Office in North Springfield, Vermont (802-995-8855).  This state permit will not hold up local permits, however construction cannot begin until the Planning & Zoning Office receives the state septic permit.