Land suitable for development shall be of such character that
it can be used for building purposes without danger to health or to
the public safety. Every subdivision application shall demonstrate
that land to be utilized for development will provide:
A. Safe water supply and sewage disposal, in accordance with Westport-Weston
Health District Regulations.
C. Convenient and safe access for service and emergency vehicles.
D. Protection of basic land and water resources.
The Commission will give special scrutiny to applications proposing
development of land with any of the following natural characteristics:
A. Floodplains, as defined by the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps of
the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (October
17, 1978), and including any subsequent revisions which may be made.
B. Slopes of 20% or greater as determined by accurate topographic survey
at contour intervals of five feet or less.
C. Wetlands, wetland linkage areas, streams, marshes, bogs and swamps,
and other water bodies.
D. Soil areas possessing severe or very severe limitations for home
site or on-site sewage disposal systems by soil types as classified
by the Fairfield County Soil and Water Conservation District.
E. Direct or primary recharge areas of stratified drift aquifers.
F. Areas subject to unusual water or wind erosion due to unstable soil,
excessive stream velocity, or lack of topsoil and vegetation.
G. Ledge rock, shallow soil areas, and extensive bedrock outcroppings.
H. Areas identified as protection zones and critical planning units
in the Weston Environmental Resources Manual, Maps 4 and 5.
I. Areas which are not accessible from a road capable of furnishing
safe and convenient access for emergency services.
[Amended 3-16-1987]
A subdivision application proposing development of any such land (as listed in §
230-13) shall be:
A. Accompanied by a lot development plan which details where any such
development is to take place and what type of development is proposed.
B. Designed so that no dwelling, structure, sewage or waste disposal
system, septic reserve area, road, driveway or other impervious area
requiring construction shall be located in floodplains, wetlands,
or on major slopes unless approvals have been obtained as needed under
the following regulations or plans: Floodplain Management Regulations
(for development in floodplains); Inland Wetland Regulations (for
development in wetlands or watercourses); Drainage and Erosion Control
Plan; and Town driveway and other ordinances where they specifically
apply.
[Amended 11-13-2008]
C. Planned to use reasonable care in the development of land with the special natural characteristics listed in §
230-13. Where reasonable development alternatives exist on a site, the Commission may require that the subdivision plan be redesigned to accomplish this.
Exemption from the requirements of §
230-14 above may be granted where the Commission finds that all land areas with any of the listed special natural characteristics:
A. Have been delineated on the map and excluded from the proposed development
area; and
B. Are protected from development by a note on the map and by deed restriction
providing that such areas shall remain permanently undisturbed in
their natural condition, free from construction, regrading, paving
and other significant alteration.
Where a subdivision road intersects a major (or collector) road,
and at other locations deemed necessary by the Commission for reasons
of safety, the subdivider shall reserve, grade and appropriately surface
an area suitable for the safe accommodation of children awaiting school
buses. Its design and location shall require Commission approval.
The paved area shall be located on the road right-of-way near the
curbline, comprising 100 to 200 square feet in area.