After you have submitted the required application, fees, and any documentation, your matter will be placed on the agenda for a Planning Board meeting, usually held at 6:00pm on the first Tuesday of each month. At the initial meeting, called a "Workshop", you (or your representative) should be prepared to discuss your project fully and answer any questions from Planning Board members. The consultant to the Planning Board will discuss the various issues raised by your application and you may be asked to provide more information at a subsequent meeting. Any further fees required will be discussed.

For most applicants, a Public Hearing is required. This will be set after the Workshop and only when the Planning Board itself is satisfied that the applicant has addressed all comments and questions to the satisfaction of the Board. The Public Hearing will be set for the following month and your neighbors will be notified of your application so that they can comment if they like.

At the Public Hearing, you or your representative must be prepared to present your application so that the members of the public who attend can understand it. The Chair will open the hearing to public comment.

After the public has had the opportunity to comment, the Board will decide whether they are ready to vote on your application, if your application is approved, a written decision may be issued and the Planning Board Chair will sign the necessary documentation. There may be conditions to your approval, which you must abide by. If your application is not approved, no further action is required.

The Town of Washington Zoning Code requires the following types of projects to be reviewed by the Planning Board:

• Subdivisions of land (Residential and non-residential)
• Lot line adjustments
• Site plans or changes to existing site plans for Commercial projects
• Stables and Riding Academies (Public or private)
• Conversions of Barns and Accessory structures to residential use
• Construction of Accessory Residential Housing (permanent or temporary)
• Signs, except as permitted by right under Section 331 of the Zoning code
• Most home occupations
• Any Soil Mining or Quarrying activity
• Installation of certain Solar Energy or Telecommunications equipment
• Wetlands Permits
• Other Special Permits, as listed in the Zoning code

The Planning Board meets once a month, on the first Tuesday of the month, usually at 6:00 P.M. See the current Planning Board schedule for specific meeting dates and application deadlines (typically two weeks prior to the meeting)

Planning Board applications can be downloaded from the Planning Board home page of the Town website (above) or can be obtained by contacting or visiting the Building and Land Use department at the Town hall during operating hours.

Yes. Fees and escrow fees for Planning Board applications can be found on the list of Planning Board fees (above). In addition, if a Public Hearing is required as part of your application, notification costs such as postage and newspaper publication are borne by the applicant.

Yes. The applicant or their authorized representative must be present and explain the project to the Board at the public meeting. Often, questions are asked by the Board or members of the public and additional clarification or information may be needed before the Planning Board can make a final decision.

If an application is approved by the Planning Board, the next step is dependent on the type of application and the type of approval granted. In some cases, conditions are established by the Planning Board in their approval, which may need to be met and confirmed prior to proceeding with the project. It is important that applicants make note of these conditions and/or contact the Planning department for clarification of what is required in order to proceed.

No. A variance is required when a property owner wants to build structures or use land in ways that are contrary to existing local zoning regulations. The property owner would seek a variance through the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The adopted zoning districts can be viewed on the Current Zoning Map, or by searching Dutchess County ParcelAccess for property information.

Uses and structure limitations (such as setbacks from property lines, maximum lot coverage, and maximum building height) can be found in the Zoning Code.

For any questions or assistance, please contact the Building and Land Use department, or see additional information available on the Building and Land Use home page.

The Town of Washington has a Wetlands and Watercourses Law, which requires that a property owner apply file a seperate WETLAND PERMIT FORM before any work is commenced on or near a wetland area or watercourse. This regulated area ist typically 50 to 100 feet from the edge of the wetland area or watercourse.

In some cases, where change in use of the home is considered "de minimus" no approval is required. In other cases, the proposed home occupation is permitted by right, and an application for a permit would be directed to the Zoning Administrator. In still other cases, certain home occupations and uses are permitted only by Special Permit and approval of the Planning Board is required. See Section 321 of the Zoning Code.  When Planning Board approval is necessary, the applicant must fill out the Planning Board application and any other required documentation and submit this to the Planning Board secretary. A public hearing will be required before the Planning Board votes on your application for a Special Permit. Please contact the Zoning Administrator for any questions or clarification on which situation applies in your case.

The Town of Washington has a Wetlands Law that requires that a Wetland Permit be obtained prior to beginning any modifications such as clear cutting, filling, construction, dredging or excavating in a regulated wetland, watercourse, or within the controlled area of a wetland or watercourse (typically 50-100 feet from the boundary of the wetland or watercourse) This application is available through the Planning Board home page (above)

A lot line change that has been agreed upon by both affected landowners can usually be acheived in a fairly simple way. The parties fill out a Planning Board application and submit that together with a survey showing the property line changes. A proposed lot line adjustment is subject to Article II, Section 20.2 (Minor Subdivisions and Lot Line Adjustments) of the Town's subdivision regulations. However, the Planning Board has historically not treated lot line adjustments (with no new lots created) as subdivisions and generally does not require a public hearing. The applicant (or their representative) must appear before the Board to discuss the application. If no new lots are created and there are no significant environmental impacts, the Board will usually vote on the proposed lot line change at that first meeting.