LAND USE GUIDE. The Town of Bethlehem

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2 LAND USE GUIDE Bethlehem is unique among Connecticut towns in that there are no zoning regulations or Zoning Commission. Other land use regulations are in place to protect and preserve the town s wetlands, ecologically important land and the overall rural character of Bethlehem. When property owners are planning changes or additions to their property, permits or approvals may be required for the work planned to comply with these regulations. This Land Use Guide has been created by the Bethlehem Conservation Commission to assist property owners in finding the right department or agency to ensure those regulations are followed properly. Information on a department or agency may be available on the Town of Bethlehem web-site: Recycling and Waste Disposal Information is noted on the back cover of this guide. Recycling, and reusing materials help to preserve our local and global environments, and reduces the cost of waste disposal. Recycling is mandatory in Connecticut. The Town of Bethlehem Bethlehem Conservation Commission The Town of Bethlehem, Litchfield County, one time saw dairy farming as the major occupation in town and cows outnumbered people. Through the years the number of farms has declined and Bethlehem has steadily become more residential. The population of Bethlehem is 3,523 according to the CERC Town Profile of Of its square miles, approximately 3 per cent or 400 acres, is permanently preserved as farmland or forest open space. Farmland and forest temporarily protected under Public Act-490 comprise a total of 45% or 5,446 acres of land. For purposes of local property taxation, Public Act-490 has allowed farm, forest or open space land to be assessed at its current use value rather than its highest or market value. Public Act-490 states "it is in the public interest to encourage the preservation of farm land, forest land and open space land in order to maintain a readily available source of food and farm products close to the metropolitan areas of the state, to conserve the state s natural resources and to provide for the welfare and happiness of the inhabitants of the state [and] that it is in the public interest to prevent the forced conversion of farm land, forest land and open space land to more intensive uses as the result of economic pressures caused by the assessment thereof for the purposes of property taxation at values incompatible with their preservation as such

3 farm land, forest land and open space land." a - 107f of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut The Bethlehem Conservation Commission The Conservation Commission focuses on educating citizens on environmental and conservation issues and supporting local efforts in these areas. The Commission meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm in the lower level of Town Hall. All meetings are open to the public. DEPARTMENTS & AGENCIES AT A GLANCE When preparing to build or make changes to homes, out-buildings and land; please remember to contact the appropriate department or agency to obtain the proper permits and permissions. TOWN HALL DEPARTMENTS Selectmen's Office ext: 200 Town Clerk's Office ext: 207 Building Department ext: 211 Fire Marshall ext: 210 COMMISSIONS & COMMITTEES Inland Wetlands Agency ext: 209 Land Use Coordinator ext: 209 Clerk Planning Commission ext: 207 Town Clerk Open Space Committee ext: 207 Town Long Meadow Lake Management Committee

4 Historic District AGENCIES Torrington Area Health District Main St Suite A Torrington, CT Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition Sherman Hill Woodbury CT Hours: Monday Friday 9am 4pm Northwest Conservation District New Litchfield St, Torrington, CT TOWN HALL DEPARTMENTS The Bethlehem Town Hall is located at 36 Main Street So. Bethlehem, CT Town Hall is CLOSED on MONDAYS. All meetings are open to the public. SELECTMEN'S OFFICE ext: 200 Selectman's Office Hours: (Preceding Meetings) 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Tuesday - Saturday 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Board of Selectmen Meets: 7:00 pm 1st Tuesday in Bethlehem Library 7:00 pm 3rd Tuesday in Town Hall The Board of Selectmen is an elected board charged with various procedural and policy matters.

5 TOWN CLERK ext: 207 Office Hours: AUGUST 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Tuesday - Friday 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday 9:00 am to 12:00 noon 1st & 3rd Saturdays * NO SATURDAY HOURS JULY & The Town Clerks can direct you to the proper department for permit or approval information. Ordinance books, Inland Wetlands and Subdivision Regulations and maps are available in the Clerks' Office. All land transfers are reported through the Town Clerks' Office. BUILDING DEPARTMENT ext: 211 Office Hours: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Tuesday - Friday The Building Department issues permits for any changes to property; demolitions, additions and construction; to ensure projects are completed in compliance with current building codes. FIRE MARSHALL ext: 210 Office Hours: 9:00 am 1:00 pm Tuesday Friday The Fire Marshall is responsible for fire code, plan review and enforcement, fire investigations and fire education. The Fire Marshall must be contacted for all inground oil or gasoline tank removal and clean up. Open burn permits are issued by the Fire Marshall and the office must be contacted for outdoor events requiring fire permissions. INLAND WETLANDS AGENCY ext: 207 Town Clerk Meeting Hours: 7:00 PM 1st Tuesday Town Hall Inland Wetlands Agency acts as the Aquifer Protection Agency and enforces State Statutes and regulations to protect town wetlands and watercourses. Permits are often required for construction projects.

6 LAND USE COORDINATOR ext: 209 Office Hours: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Tuesday The Land Use Coordinator assists in determining which approvals and permits are required for a land owner's project and helps navigate between the Planning Commission, Inland Wetlands Agency and other town departments. PLANNING COMMISSION ext: 207 Town Clerk Meeting Hours: 7:00 pm 2nd Thursday in Town Hall Planning Commission is responsible for the division of land in the town and making decisions on certain ordinances that come under their jurisdiction. The Commission enforces mandates of the Town s Septic Ordinance and approves the acquisition, sale and use of town-owned property. Regulations and applications are available on-line. government.htm COMMISSIONS and COMMITTEES Commissions and Committees are comprised of appointed volunteers. They do not have offices in Town Hall but operate within Town regulations. Historic District Commission Meeting Hours: 7:00 pm Last Thursday in Bethlehem Library The Historic District has jurisdiction over all properties located within the established Historic District. Long Meadow Lake Management Committee Meeting Hours: 7:00 pm 1st Thursday (March-September) Bethlehem Library The primary focus of the Long Meadow Lake Management Committee is maintaining the quality of the lake water by arranging for weed control and water quality testing. The lake is tested by Torrington Area Health District. LMLMC is a volunteer committee with an advisory role in watershed issues related to management, education, understanding and stewardship of Long Meadow Pond. Open Space Committee Meeting Hours: Scheduled As-Needed in Town Hall Call Town Clerks Office ext: 207 for information

7 Open space is Bethlehem s greatest natural resource, whether it is farmland, forest or wetland. The Open Space Committee established a set of environmental and aesthetic standards to assist in recommending to the Board of Selectmen those parcels of land deemed suitable for preservation. The Open Space Committee also prepares grant applications for acquisitions of property for preservation. OTHER AGENCIES Torrington Area Health District Main St Suite A Torrington, CT TAHD determines the suitability of soils for sewage disposal, reviews septic system design plans, and inspects and approves the system installation. TAHD reviews and approves proposed well sites, reviews proposed building additions, change of use or construction of accessory structures on lots served by septic systems or wells. Although primarily regulatory, the TAHD is an excellent source of information on a variety of health related topics. Connecticut State Department of Transportation: h#p:// For road encroachment issues, driveway or earth moving projects, it may be necessary to contact CT DOT. Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition Sherman Hill Woodbury CT Hours: 9:00 am 4:00 pm Monday - Friday The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition (PRWC) was founded in 1999 by residents of Bethlehem, Woodbury and Southbury in response to the increasing pressures that land development activities threaten to put on the local water supply.

8 The mission of the PRWC is to ensure the availability of high quality water in the Pomperaug Watershed communities through the use of science and education. We share our knowledge and expertise with others committed to the protection of water resources for future generations. PRWC has evolved into a nationally recognized model for scientific investigation, municipal assistance, stakeholder collaboration, community education, and volunteer engagement. The partnership between local governments, businesses, environmental organizations and private citizens, state, local and federal agencies works to ensure the health and vibrancy of the Pomperaug Watershed for everyone. Northwest Conservation District New Litchfield St, Torrington, CT NCD works to conserve local natural resources by offering a wide variety of technical services and educational programs. The focus is on watershed and open space protection; low impact development techniques, sustainable resource and energy use and promotion of ecosystem planning. A variety of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based mapping solutions are offered to assist in project planning and decision making. LEGEND: AGENCY / COMMISSION / DEPARTMENT TO CONTACT PERMITor APPROVAL REQUIRED * APPROVAL MAY BE REQUIRED- CHECK WITH AGENCY or COMMISSION SELECT MEN BUILDI NG DEPT FIRE MARSH ALL INLAND- WETLAN D COMMIS SION PLANNIN G COMMISS ION HISTORI C DISTRIC T (if in Hist Dist) TORRING TON AREA HEALTH DISTRICT CT DEP T of TRA NS. Air Conditioning or Generator Non-Portable Installation * * Blasting / Explosives Building- Addition to structure *

9 Building- Outbuilding * Building- New Structure * Building- Demolition or Removal of Structure Building- Structure Exterior Renovation Building- Conversion of Garage, Attic, Porch, Basement to Living Space Building- Proposed Change in Building Use, Size, or Number of Rooms Building- Replace Siding, Windows, Roofing Culvert / Bridge - New Construction or Repair Driveway - To Town Road * Driveway - To State Road * Driveway - Re-Surfacing or Paving with No Changes * Earth Materials * Fences- New Installation * Fires- Brush Burning or Camp Fires Heating- Conventional Heating- Alternative: Wood or Pellet Stove, Geothermal, etc

10 LEGEND: AGENCY / COMMISSION / DEPARTMENT TO CONTACT PERMITor APPROVAL REQUIRED * APPROVAL MAY BE REQUIRED- CHECK WITH AGENCY or COMMISSION SELECT MEN Bld G DEP T FIRE MARSH ALL INLAND- WETLAN D COMMISS ION PLANNIN G COMMISS ION HISTORI C DISTRIC T (if in Hist Dist) TORRING TON AREA HEALTH DISTRICT CT DEP T of TRA NS. Logging * Plumbing- Additions, Changes, or Removals Pools- Above Ground or In- Ground New Construction / Renovation / Demolition Portable Sheds, Garages (on blocks) * * Portable Enclosures- Aluminum Frame with Plastic or Fabric Cover * * * (>1200sq. Ft. or With Heat or Electric) Septic System- Review, Inspection / * Approval of Plan & Installation Road Encroachment * * Signage- In Historic District *

11 Subdivision or Re-Subdivision of Land Tank- Inground Removal, Clean Up Water- Quality & Quantity Water- Well Drilling, Redrilling, Relocating * Water- Activities Within 100 Ft of Wetland or Within 150 Ft of Watercourse Water- Activities Upland Impacting Wetland or Watercourse

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