WILTON — The Planning Board on Thursday voted against placing an article on the June town meeting warrant that would have authorized the code enforcement officer to issue permits for properties that had site plan reviews.

The board also voted against an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that deals with expanding a nonconforming structure. That proposed change will be on the warrant.

Member Sheryl Mosher said she didn’t think the board should give its permit-issuing authority to someone else.

Other board members had similar thoughts and voted not to have it on the warrant. The board could revisit it in the future.

Some residents at the meeting were concerned about changes to the shoreland section of the Zoning Ordinance. 

The ordinance allows crawl spaces under a structure to be up to 5 feet high. The proposed amendment eliminates that restriction, but would not allow the space to be habitable.

The change reflects changes in the state’s Model Shoreland Zoning Ordinance.

The select board supports the change.

Rob Lively, vice president of the Friends of Wilson Lake, read a letter from President Wynn Muller.

“Were we to remove this section, the town would be required to constantly inspect these properties to assure that they were not being used for habitation. That would be costly and impractical,” Muller wrote.

Lively said, “The lake is the jewel of the town” and draws visitors and helps support local businesses.

Friends of Wilson Lake member Mary Ryan, who has been testing the lake’s water quality since 1986 said, “In the last few years, the quality has deteriorated.” Heavy rains extended over several days have led to a significant drop in the lake’s clarity, she said.

“This is the first time in all the years I’ve been doing this that I’ve seen a decline,” she stressed.

Ryan said she is concerned that changes made near the lake could further impact clarity if there are more heavy rains. Sediment could go into the lake, especially if good healthy buffers aren’t in place, she said.

Code Enforcement Officer Roger Williams noted that erosion control measures are to be used.

“People know Mr. Williams is only here one day per week. Things happen when you’re not here,” Ryan said.

“If quality decreases, it impacts the value of water properties,” Lively said. That affects taxes, creating a ripple effect that everyone will feel. “It’s happened in other towns,” he said.

The board voted not to support the amendment and include wording in the warrant to reflect their reasoning. The suggested wording is: “The Planning Board opposes this proposal because it may inadvertently encourage a higher level of soil disturbance and residential development near the lake, which the board feels is in conflict with the intent of the Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan.”