The Planning and Zoning Commission took a step toward easing restriction dictated by the town’s hillside disturbance regulations.

The commission Sept. 25 voted unanimously by those present (5-0) to recommend the Town Council adopt proposed amendments to the rules.

A subcommittee consisting of three commission members, a council member and two citizens convened in February and proposed the changes that are on the table.

There are six substantial changes to the ordinance that include the following proposals:

*Allow a 20-foot wide driveway path exemption between the front property line and the garage door, or the front of the house if there is no garage.

*Allow a 10-foot wide utility trench exemption subject to written confirmation of the requirement from the utility that the trench be outside the driveway exemption area and that the trench area be re-vegetated.

*Slopes shall be considered “hillside” slopes if they are 20 percent or greater.

*Up to 40 percent of the hillside slope areas on a residential lot may be disturbed.

*Commercially- and industrially-zoned properties shall be exempt from the hillside disturbance limitations.

*Residential lots that are zoned R1-6, R1-6A, R1-8, R1-8A, R1-10 and R1-10A (small lot zoning) shall be exempt from the hillside disturbance limitations with 100 percent disturbance allowable.

The subcommittee included Commission Chairman Lloyd Pew, Vice Chairman Mike Archambault and Commissioner Steven Harris, also Town Councilman Dennis Brown and citizens Dave Montgomery and Clint Scherf.

Pew asked that staff review a couple of items for technical accuracy before forwarding the proposal to the council.

“I think we did everything we set out to do,” Pew said. “We have a simpler calculation, and we have cut down on the verbiage.”

The Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing to consider adoption of the amendments at its regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 16.