Developer Rinnier to resubmit text amendment to BPC

What looked like a fairly straight forward text amendment on a town zoning ordinance erupted into debate on the growth of the town of Berlin during a public meeting on Monday.

Earlier this year, Rinnier Development Company’s 700-plus-townhome complex on Seahawk Road received approval from the Berlin Planning Commission, with the condition that the commission and the Town Council had to approve an amendment expanding the current limits on dwelling units inside multi-family buildings.

While that number is current set at 12, the commission voted 4-2 to recommend Berlin update its zoning code to allow for “any number” of units at the discretion of the Planning Commission.

After nearly an hour of discussion, however, and under pressure from the mayor and council as well as a pair of residents, attorney Mark Cropper, representing the developer, withdrew his request for the amendment.

Upon opening a required public hearing on the matter, Berlin Mayor Gee Williams and Town Attorney David Gaskill initially called the amendment a “simple change.”

More