Zoning and Subdivision

The Town of Burke Zoning Bylaw was originally adopted on March 2, 1976; On January 6, 1990, the original Subdivision Bylaw was adopted. Since that time, the Town of Burke Zoning and Subdivision Regulations have been amended several times, including the most recent amendment on July 7, 2011.  Below are excerpts from the Introduction. The complete document is available at  Town of Burke Zoning and Subdivision Bylaw.

§101. Enactment

In accordance with the Chapter 117 of Title 24 V.S.A., Vermont Planning and Development Act, hereinafter referred to as “24 V.S.A.” there is hereby established a zoning bylaw for the Town of Burke, which is set forth in the text and map that constitute this bylaw. This bylaw shall be known and cited as the “Town of Burke Zoning Bylaw.”
 

§102. Purpose and Intent

(1) The purposes of this bylaw to provide for orderly growth, to further the purposes established in 24 V.S.A. §4302, and to achieve the following specific objectives:

A) To guide the future growth and orderly development of the Town.

B) To ensure and protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the present
and future inhabitants of the Town of Burke;

C) To maintain or enhance the quality of life of the inhabitants of the Town
of Burke;

D) To provide for the conservation and protection of the natural, visual, and
historic assets of the Town; the preservation of the existing rural character
of the Town through the proper arrangement of uses and development on
parcels; the preservation of adequate open space between developments;
and the preservation of land values and an adequate tax base;

E) To protect, conserve, or enhance the environment by securing safety from
fire, traffic congestion, environmental pollutants, soil erosion, overuse of
land, and other dangers;

F) To ensure that growth is consistent with the Town’s ability to provide
public facilities and services, including parks and open spaces, recreation
areas, schools, police and fire protection, off-street parking, and water
supply and sewage disposal;

G) To establish the most beneficial relationship between uses of land and
buildings and the safe and convenient movement of pedestrian and
vehicular traffic;

H) To ensure that development encourages efficient and economic uses of
energy consistent with current technology;

I) To implement the Town Plan, its policies, and objectives; and

J) To ensure that all land use permits are issued in accordance with state
statute.
 

(2) In any dispute or conflict involving this bylaw, the intent and not the letter shall be
the prevailing law.

Source: Town of Burke Zoning and Subdivision Regulations