ZONING UPDATES

PROPOSED WAYNE TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE
The Wayne Township Planning Commission has prepared a new Wayne Township Zoning Ordinance and Map for consideration.  A meeting has been scheduled for October 3, 2011 at 6 p.m. at the township municipal building, 17395 Sciota Road, to receive comments from the public.  Written comments are encouraged and may be addressed to the township secretary anytime up to the date of the meeting.  A copy of this draft document is available for viewing from the above link.

Following this meeting, the planning commission will address all comments received and prepare their final draft for presentation to the Board of Supervisors with recommendations and explanatory material.  Upon receipt, the supervisors will refer the ordinance to the Erie County Department of Planning and adjacent municipalities for review & comment.  Upon receipt of these recommendations, the Board of Supervisors will schedule a public hearing.  Dependent on the results of this hearing, the supervisors will vote on enactment within 90 days of the last public hearing.

So that the reader may better understand the changes being proposed, this document incorporates both new document language (in bold underline) and the sections of the current zoning ordinance that are proposed for removal (in italics).  Only minor changes have not been denoted.

A summary of the major changes to the curent ordinance include:

• Addition of a second business zone on Route 6 west of the Conelway/W. Washington Street intersection identified as B-1.  This area is not served by public water and sewer, nor is installation anticipated in the near future.  The B-1 zone would permit both business use and single family dwellings.  Note: There is no extension of the business zone beyond those properties currently zoned business; only a delineation of B-1 & B-2.
• The remainder of the current B-zone will be zoned B-2.  With access to public utilities, this land remains our township's prime commercial land.  Single family dwellings are not a permitted use.  Existing homes will continue as non-conforming uses.
• Inclusion of land uses previously omitted, together with minimum requirements for development.  These include exotic wildlife, non-impact home businesses, oil & gas development, renewable energy sources, adult entertainment.
• Extensive changes to sign regulations in response to new technology, and to judicial findings.
• Reductions in some minimum setbacks and parking requirements.  This is proposed to reduce unnecessary impervious area that must be addressed by storm water management.

This listing is not all inclusive and the reader is encouraged to review the document in its entirety.