By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

BURRILLVILLE — A zoning ordinance revision relative to how the town reviews and monitors  development elicited a lengthy discussion by members of the Town Council at a public hearing on the revision Wednesday night.

While a majority of the council was supportive of the amended ordinance submitted for the council's approval by the Ordinance Subcommittee, Councilor Kevin R. Blais voiced concerns about the revisions, saying some of the changes smack of too much local government interference.
“This is another opportunity for local government to get involved in things that are already granted by right to homeowners,” he said.
The purposes of the amended development plan review ordinance is to assure that to the fullest extent feasible, the best design and planning practices and best available technology are used to avoid or minimize impacts of development on the natural and manmade environment of the town.
The revised ordinance, says, among other things, that any proposed commercial or industrial development that exceeds 10,000 square feet or generates greater than 500 vehicle trips per day will be subject to review by the Planning Board, which will act as the town's review agent.
Any development that proposes to clear, grade or disturb  greater than 20,000 square feet of land, would also be subject to review by the planners.
See COUNCIL, Page A-8
Blais expressed particular concern about that part of the revised ordinance relating to storage of hazardous materials and the storage of of household oil, which in the ordinance proposes town review for storage of anything over 300 gallons of oil on site. Blais pointed out that most home oil storage tanks are much larger and proposed changing the figure to 650 gallons, a suggestion  approved by the rest of the council.
Town Planner Thomas Kravitz explained that the revisions allow the the Planning Board to act as the town's review agent and are more consistent with state regulations.
At the end of the discussion, the council passed the ordinance revision by a unanimous vote.
In other business, the council approved a request by Parks and Recreation Director Cheri R. Hall to award a $51,000 contract to New England Recreation Group, which will be hired to complete the last phase of improvements at Hauser Memorial Field in Pascoag. That last phase includes demolition of the outdated playground and installation of a new play area. New athletic fields were built at the park a few years ago as part of the project.
The funds to hire the company will be taken from the Hauser Memorial Field Project Fund and remaining DEM grant funds of approximately $11,000.