When the town’s hillside disturbance regulations were first adopted, they were intentionally restrictive and controversial.

Now more than a decade later the feeling is they are too restrictive and inhibiting growth in the community.

On Thursday the Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss regulation changes proposed by a committee that convened in February.

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 reviewing the ordinance included three members of the Planning and Zoning Commission including Chairman Lloyd Pew, Vice Chairman Mike Archambault and Commissioner Steven Harris, also Town Councilman Dennis Brown and Dave Montgomery and Clint Scherf.

Both the subcommittee and staff recommend the commission forward the proposed changes to the Town Council for public hearing and adoption.

The Planning and Zoning Commission meets on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public and a public hearing will be held to take comments.