Useful Community Development: What's New
Here are the most recent important changes to our website, including new articles, visitor questions, and editors' answers. You'll also find links to significantly revised pages and time-sensitive or short items we want to bring to your attention. Sometimes we also add short items of interest, especially time-sensitive notes about conferences, webinars, or seasons.
How to stop construction of a three story building
Visitor Question: How does a town stop the construction of a three-story building? Currently, the first request by the applicant to the town was denied,
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Unit above me caused water leak in my bathroom
Visitor Question:The unit above me has caused a fifth water leak in my master bathroom. I reported it to code enforcement. They gave her three days to
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Which zoning district typically has greater setbacks
Visitor Question: Out of employment zones, commercial zones, and residential zones which one is most likely to have higher values for setbacks AND why?
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Criminals in your neighborhood
Visitor Question:> How can you deal with criminals in your neighborhood? My neighborhood is being terrorized by a relatively few bad buys (and one bad
Neighbor harassment
Visitor Question: Our daughter lives in a house we own. She received a violation complaint about items on her porch. These items were buckets and so forth
Code Enforcement and Standing Water
Website Visitor's Original Question: A family purchased a small inflatable swimming pool during the summer, and placed the pool in the backyard. Children
How Far from Property Line Should Trees Be
Visitor Question: How far from someone’s property line does someone have to be in order to plant large growing trees? Editors Reply: In most places, the
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Feel harassed by code enforcement officer
Visitor Question: I was given a code violation for graffiti on my fence. Every year I have had to correct this. This year in around April I had to paint
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Can a church meet in a building that is zoned industrial?
Visitor Question: I am a member of a local church congregation (less than 100 people) that has been meeting in a school gymnasium. Due to Covid-19,
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Signs of neighborhood decline
Visitor Question: What are the signs of neighborhood decline? I have been in a nice enough neighborhood for about 25 years. My next door neighbor has been
Racial Equity and Community Development Must Progress Jointly
Many people think racial equity and community development are already well linked; this page points out 7 areas where the relationship should be stronger.
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Planning Commissioners, Decisions and Conditional Use Permits
Visitor Question: Can Planning Commissioners legally reference the General Plan as a basis for their decisions on a conditional use permit? Editors Reply:
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Special exception for commercial tree company
Visitor Question: A commercial tree company has filed for a special exception next door to me in our rural residential town. It would be completely out
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How Community Engagement Builds a Better Plan
Community engagement and public participation for city planning processes may include meetings, open houses, charrettes, surveys, focus groups, and more.
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