Flag lot ordinance to remain in committee
By DAN MORIARTY
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – The Zoning, Planning and Development Committee voted last night to keep a proposed ordinance, to allow a new category of building lots, in committee for further review.
The proposed ordinance, sponsored by At-large Councilor John J. Beltrandi III at the council’s Oct. 6, 2011 session, will allow creation of “flag lots” which are not permitted under the city’s current zoning codes.
The present codes set a minimum frontage requirements for building lots in each of the city’s residential zones. The flag lot ordinance would allow development of lots that do not have the required frontage, but do have access to a public way. The “pole” of the lot is the access, with the “flag” is the larger area where the house would be constructed, typically behind lots with adequate street frontage.
Several surrounding communities, including Southwick, have adopted flag lot ordinances, setting requirements for the pole and flag portion of the lot. Typically the lots require a pole between 25 and 50 feet in width to allow for construction of a driveway, with setback requirements from the abutting property, and installation of utilities both underground, such as water and natural gas, as well as telecommunications and electrical power attached to utility poles.
Some communities allow flag lots only in rural residential zones. Communities also set the area requirement for the actual building lot which usually calls for square footage exceeding the minimum size requirement for that particular zone.
At-large Councilor Brian Sullivan, chairman of the ZP&D Committee requested a motion to table the proposed ordinance, which is listed on the council’s agenda for tonight, until the city’s new principal planner, G. Jay Vinskey of Northampton, can attend a committee meeting. Vinskey will assume his new duties Monday.
Sullivan said he would also like to discuss the language of the proposed ordinance, including restrictions, with the city’s Law Department.
The motion was approved by At-large Councilor Brent B. Bean II and Ward 5 Councilor Richard E. Onofrey Jr.
Dan Moriarty can be reached at [email protected]
