WINDHAM - History will change or repeat itself as the town of Windham prepares for a public hearing on a possible zoning law.
Government leaders are hosting the citizens comment session on April 30, starting at 6 p.m. at the municipal hall in the hamlet of Hensonville.
They will be joined by Helen Burdock, an outside consultant brought in to guide the painstaking process of writing the potential legislation.
The three-year task was handled by a special commission of residents put together following an update of the local Comprehensive Plan.
A priority in that long-term vision for the town was to, at the very least, take a serious look at existing land use rules, with the landscape of Windham experiencing widespread development.
Zoning, in the past, had been overwhelmingly viewed as a disparaging 4-letter word, swiftly shunned if expressed even as a mere thought.
Real estate realities have shifted considerably over the last decade, however, particularly in the aftermath of the covid pandemic.
“This is the world we live in now,” town supervisor Thomas Hoyt says, referencing numbers revealed during a recent council get together.
Delaware Engineering principal John Brust shared facts and figures on “current [Windham] planning board projects,” as of March 12, 2026.
“There are currently 13 “in-flight” land development projects in various stages of review and approval…representing a total of 255 residential units,” Brust stated.
“What I’ve mostly heard since we started this zoning idea is that this should have been done twenty years ago,” Hoyt says.
But nothing is a done deal yet, nor will it be after the public hearing, and there is a chance town officials could stick with the status quo.
Any and all comments voiced, next Thursday night, will be collated by Budrock, whose services are paid for by a Department of State grant.
More talks could ensue if significant additions or subtractions to the draft proposal are made, and at some point in the near future, town council members will either approve or reject a final plan.
Public input has been largely positive toward moving forward, thus far, including during a well-attended information meeting, last year, where citizens got their first look at a preliminary proposal.
Following that gathering, some tweaks were made to the document that is available for viewing on the town website and wearewindham2040.com/.
Meanwhile, there has been a call by onetime town supervisor candidate Connor Exum for a public referendum on the issue.
That is not expected to occur since zoning power, according to State rules, is granted to local governing boards, including town councils.
As the public hearing approaches Budrock states, “for the first time in its history, the Town of Windham, is contemplating adopting zoning regulations to guide future growth and development.
“Zoning is a tool that is commonly used by communities to regulate the built environment. It is a local law that establishes different districts or “zones” with specific regulations that govern the type and intensity of future development within each zone,” Budrock states.
“While Windham does not currently have a zoning law, over the years the town has adopted several other land use laws designed to regulate
the built environment, which are still in effect,” Budrock states.
“If zoning is adopted, some of those existing laws such as the Site
Plan Law, Setback Law, and Sign Regulations will no longer
be necessary because they will be incorporated into the
new Zoning Law,” Budrock states.
Five distinct zones districts will be established; Rural Residential, Hamlet, Planned Residential Development, Resort District and Business District.
The stated overall “Purpose and Intent” of zoning in Windham is to:
—Guide future development, foster an orderly pattern of growth and prevent intrusion of incompatible uses;
—Conserve the taxable value of land and buildings throughout the town and provide for the accommodation of new development in such a way as to create a harmonious appearance and enhance the desirable aesthetic qualities of the town;
—Encourage flexibility in the design and development of land in such a way as to facilitate the adequate and economical provisions of streets, utilities and parks;
—To preserve the natural and scenic qualities of open lands for public use and enjoyment and to provide housing opportunities suitable to the varied needs of the population;
—To preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the community and the economic value of the land by means of the wise use and management of natural resources throughout the town.
—To prevent and reduce traffic congestions, and promote safe and efficient circulation of motorized and non-motorized vehicular traffic, and pedestrians.”
