In the Borough of Fieldsboro we have a combined entity of the planning and zoning boards named The Joint Land Use Board.
The board members of the Joint Land Use Board are appointed by the Mayor.
Governance: Oversight (appeals) of the Joint Land Use Board would be by the Borough Council.
If a resident is trying to change anything with the exterior of their home like an addition, a deck, a driveway, a fence, raising their roofline, adding a shed, etc. The resident will have to go through the zoning approval process, they would submit a zoning application to the Clerk (Patrice) with the application fee and then the application would be sent to our Fieldsboro Zoning Officer, Robin Bucci. Robin then determines if the proposed project is in compliance with zoning regulations for their area such as property setbacks, impervious coverage, height restrictions etc. If the proposed project is in compliance with their zoning requirements, Robin approves their application and they can then go and apply for the necessary construction permits. If the zoning officer finds that the proposed project is not in compliance with their zoning requirements, they can choose to not proceed with their project, or they can choose to go to the Joint Land Use Board (i.e., the planning board of the joint land use board) and would fill out the land use application to apply for a variance or multiple variances. It gets submitted to the Board professionals (Engineer and Attorney) and then it eventually go in front of the Board for a hearing.
The Board then votes to approve or deny the application. If approved by the Board the resident will then re-apply for zoning with the approval by the Joint Land Use Board and once approved by the zoning officer, the resident can then go to apply for the constructions permits. The only time a resident is bypassing the zoning approval process is if their project is something fully internal in their home like changing interior walls, unless they change the use of the structure it requires zoning approval Residents are only coming to the Joint Land Use Board (i.e., planning board of the joint land use board) if they are sent by the Zoning officer because their project requires it or for something like subdividing a lot. The exception to this is when its commercial, it will always come to the board.
Summary of Process
The Land Use Office is responsible for the enforcement of the Municipal Land Use Law and the Land Use Legislation of the Borough of Fieldsboro as well as administrative and technical support for the Joint Land Use Board.
The Joint Land Use Board generally review the following types of applications:
- Variances: Permission to receive an exception to one or more provision of the Land Use Regulations. Example: conducting a business in a residential zone, placing a shed too close to the property line.
- Site Plans: Development plan showing existing and proposed conditions of property (drainage, building, parking, etc.)
- Subdivisions: The division of a lot, tract or parcel of land into two or more lots.
- Zoning Approval Denial
Steve Lengenfelder, Chairman
Melissa McCarty, Co-Chairman
Arthur James Sutton, Member
Steve Jaczko, Member
The Zoning Officer is responsible for the enforcement and interpretation of the Zoning ordinances of the Borough of Fieldsboro that have been established for the proper use of the land. Zoning permits are required for any work done outside the home.
§ 109-6. Districts established. [Amended 7-9-1987 by Ord. No. 1987-9; 8-12-1991 by Ord. No.
1991-4; 9-14-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-7; 12-14-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-10] A. For the purposes of this chapter, no land shall be used and no structure shall be erected or used within the Borough of Fieldsboro, unless it conforms to the requirements hereinafter set forth in the following districts or zones, and their regulations (see bulk area requirements).
The Zoning Permit Application is only for Zoning approval. Applicants must still obtain all applicable State, County, Local Building, and Private Homeowner Association approvals (where necessary).
Approval Process
- Zoning Permits are submitted with applicable fee.
- The proposed construction is checked for use and area, yard and building requirements by the Zoning Officer.
- Approved permits are then taken to the Construction Department.
- When a permit is found to be in violation of an ordinance, the homeowner or contractor is contacted to explain that the proposed construction or use is in violation and they are presented with choices as to how to continue from that point.
- They can change the proposed construction so that it meets the ordinance requirements, apply for a variance, appeal the decision of the Zoning Officer, or go apply for an interpretation of the ordinance before the Joint Land Use Board.