P&Z Schedules Meeting On Rainfall Standards Commissioners discussed the use of 25-year rainfall standards for dealing with runoff from the new middle school adjacent to the Fitch High School. Sue Sutherland, chairperson of the Zoning Commission before it merged into Planning & Zoning, raised the question of whether that benchmark is appropriate in light of climate change. She noted that Fort Hill Brook, which will accept stormwater flows, is a swiftly moving stream that has flooded in the past. Ms. Sutherland, formerly Zoning Commission Chair, is now an alternate member of the new commission.
The 25-year benchmark will remain in place for the middle school because it is the town standard. However, Assistant Director of Planning, Deb Jones, told the commission that she would schedule a meeting to discuss the issue. She noted that increasing the standard to 100 years would involve much more extensive cutting of trees. No date was set immediately.