Village considers merging Zoning and Planning boards

A public hearing is slated for Nov. 12

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Webster, NY - The Village of Webster is holding a public hearing on Nov. 12 to consider consolidating the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board into a single board.

The Webster Village Board of Trustees discussed consolidating the two boards due to limited members and meetings for each board.

Currently, each board has only three members. In 2019, the Village Planning Board only held nine meetings; the Village Zoning Board of Appeals only had five. So far in 2020, the Planning Board has only met once, and the Zoning Board has only met twice.

By law, the Village is required to have a ZBA. However, it is not required to have a PB.

With a combined board, the goal would be to have five members and two alternates. Although officially labeled as a “Zoning Board of Appeals,” the board would also perform Planning Board functions.

The public hearing, on what is formally referred to as “proposed local law No. 3 of 2020, to abolish the current Planning Board and Zoning Board and create a new Zoning Board of Appeals with all the powers of a Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals,” is scheduled for November 12, 2020 at 7:15 p.m.

For those who are uncomfortable attending the public hearing in person, questions can be emailed to the Village Clerk at hhalstead@villageofwebster.com or sent via comment or direct message on the Village of Webster Facebook page. Residents can also call the Village Board directly at (585) 265-3772.