The provisions of these Regulations shall be enforced by the Planning & Zoning Commission via a Zoning Enforcement Officer.

22.1.1

When a difference of opinion exists among the technical advisers to the various land use Commissions concerning a zoning regulation, the Planning & Zoning Commission shall be asked for, and be required to give guidance to the Zoning Enforcement Officer on the intent of the regulation.

22.1.2

Appeals from the decisions of the Planning & Zoning Commission shall be made to Superior Court in accordance with Section 8-8 and 8-9 of the CGS. The Vernon Board of Appeals shall not have authority to hear an appeal of any decision of the Vernon Planning & Zoning Commission whether on a matter that is a discretionary decision or a ministerial decision.

22.2.1

Zone District or Regulation Change: .....$200.00

22.2.2

Special Permit: .....$200.00

22.2.3

Special Exceptions, variances or appeal from the Zoning Enforcement Officer: .....$200.00

22.2.5

Variance: .....$200.00

22.2.5

Special hearing for gasoline station or repairer's license .....$200.00

22.2.6

Detailed Site Plan Residential (New Construction/ Expansion) .....

22.2.6.1

Up to 4 dwellings .....$200.00

22.2.6.2

Detailed Site Plan Residential each additional dwelling over 4 units .....$5.00

22.2.7

Detailed Site Plan Non-Residential (New Construction/ Expansion) .....

22.2.7.1

Up to 2,000 square feet .....$200.00

22.2.7.2

Each additional 1,000 square feet .....$15.00

22.2.8

Legal notice fees .....$150.00

22.2.9

When a development requires Special Permit and Site Plan approval, the larger of the two fees is required.

22.2.10

All applications require an additional a $60.00 fee mandated by the State of Connecticut.

22.2.11

All applications requiring a soil and erosion control plan certification will require an additional $300.00 fee made payable to the Town of Vernon. If the plan is required to be sent to North Central Conservation District, the town will pay NCCD.

22.2.12

Minor Modifications .....$100.00

22.2.13

In addition to the standard fees for the processing of an application, the applicant may be require to pay an additional fee to cover the costs of technical services and consultants to analyze, review and report on areas requiring a detailed, technical review if one or more of the following thresholds are met:

22.2.13.1

The proposed action directly abuts or is within 500' of or has the potential to directly or indirectly impact a significant natural and cultural resource identified in the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) (pp. 71-73), or;

22.2.13.2

The proposed action fronts, requires access to, or has potential to impact those roadways and intersections identified in the POCD as part of the Traffic Management Plan, Traffic Calming Recommendations, or Accident Mitigation Areas (pp. 94-107), or;

22.2.13.3

The proposed action fronts, requires access to, or has potential to impact sites identified in the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) Suggested List of Safety Surveillance Sites (SLOSS), or;

22.2.13.4

The proposed action directly or indirectly conflicts with one or more of the Policies, Goals, and Objectives recommended in the POCD (pp. 109-120), specifically:

A. Housing Policies, Goals and Objectives

B. Economic Base Policies, Goals and Objectives

C. Design Policies Goals and Objectives

D. Community Facilities Polices, Goals and Objectives

E. Transportation Policies, Goals, and Objectives

F. Open Space Policies, Goals, and Objectives, or;

22.2.13.5

The proposed action directly or indirectly conflicts with the Land Use Plan and Strategy as stated in the POCD (pp. 121-129), or;

22.2.13.6

The proposed action is identified as an Area Sensitive to Development in the POCD (pp. 17-18), or;

22.2.13.7

Deleted.

22.2.13.8

The proposed action is within or has the potential to impact to areas identified by the United States Department of Agriculture to contain Prime Important Farmland Soil, and as indicated in the POCD (pp. 16-17), or;

22.2.13.9

The proposed action is within or has the potential to impact areas identified by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection in the Natural Diversity Database (NDDB) as an area containing Endangered, Threatened, & Species of Special Concern, or;

22.2.13.10

The proposed action is within or has the potential to impact those areas identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Map as a Flood Zone or Flood Plain, or;

22.2.13.11

The proposed action is within or has the potential to impact those areas identified as a Priority Area for Open Space Protection, or Part of the Existing and/or Potential Open Space System, or is in direct or indirect conflict with the Open Space Policies and Goals as identified in the POCD (pp. 74-87), or;

22.2.13.12

That is proposed in a use district (specified in Section 4 of the Zoning Regulations) where the proposed activity in its entirety exceeds the impervious coverage thresholds established in such relevant district, or;

22.2.13.13

Where the aggregate square footage for all structures on any parcel exceeds 25,000, or;

22.2.13.14

Where the proposed action includes greater than 50 off-street parking or loading spaces, or;

22.2.13.15

Any application in which additional technical evaluations are determined by the Commission to be necessary to fulfill the Town requirements for processing the application and/ or may be necessary to obtain a satisfactory evaluation of the Application, inclusive of legal reviews and guidance.

22.2.14

Whenever an application establishes criteria identified in 22.2.13, the Town Planner will provide an estimated cost for technical services and consultants. The commission will review said estimate and determine the necessary scope of services and establish an appropriate additional fee.

22.2.15

The fees required under Sections 22.2 will be paid to the Town of Vernon prior to futher proceeding on the application. Upon completion of the technical review and/or other services, a determination of the costs incurred will be performed, and any excess will be refunded to applicant. During the course of the application review, if the fee as set by the Commission is found to be insufficient, the Commission may review and revise such fee as appropriate.

22.2.16

If the fees required under Section 22.2 are not paid in a timely fashion as to allow the Commission to comply with provisions of C.G.S 8-7d, such failure may be ground for the Commission to deny the application without prejudice. Any partial fees paid may be credited towards a subsequent application.

22.2.17

The Commission may, in determining standard, and additional fees, may take into consideration:

22.2.17.1

Such application is substantially similar to one previously filed and withdrawn, or denied without prejudice;

22.2.17.2

The previous application had paid all fees in full;

22.2.17.3

Minimal additional staff time will be needed for review and processing the application;

22.2.17.4

The application is from a municipal entity;

22.2.17.5

The application pertains to a non-profit entity.

22.2.18

An applicant may contest the fee required for any application submitted by submitting a letter to the Town of Vernon Building Department at 55 West Main Street, to the attention of the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Any request to reduce the amount of fee required for any aspect of the application should be made within 30 days of the date of submission to the Department. The Zoning Enforcement Officer shall review said request within 65 days of its receipt, and issue a decision within 65 days of the conclusion of said review.

(Appl. PZ-2020-15, 1-21-2021; Amd. of 2-15-2024(2))