The Fraser Board of Trustees have called a special meeting on Oct. 29 to vote on an emergency ordinance imposing a six-month moratorium on land use applications in the business zone district.

The temporary moratorium established by the ordinance would pause all new land-use activity in the town of Fraser’s business zone district while the town updates its land use code and comprehensive plan. A draft for the comprehensive plan is expected to be presented for public comment at the planning commission’s Nov. 12 meeting.

If passed, the ordinance would take effect immediately as an emergency measure, meaning board members believe the moratorium is urgently needed to protect the town’s health, safety, welfare and financial stability.

The ordinance cited two reasons for declaring an emergency: preventing a rush of development applications and ensuring new developments align with the town’s comprehensive plan.

Immediate implementation would ensure consistency and clarity, while protecting the town’s financial stability, the document stated. It also stated that letting projects move forward under outdated rules could conflict with new planning goals for development and tax-base growth.

At the town’s Oct. 22 planning commission meeting, Assistant Town Planner Alan Sielaff presented a discussion item citing concern over residential uses in the town’s business district, which currently allows multi and single-family dwellings. The town’s new comprehensive plan could change the zoning for residential units in Fraser to commercial or mixed-use establishments.

The Oct. 29 emergency meeting will follow up on concerns presented by town staff and members of the public at the planning commission meeting, and hopes to address the zoning of future developments in the business zone district. The meeting will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Fraser Town Hall, and is open to the public.

The next regularly scheduled meeting for Fraser Board of Trustees is scheduled for Nov. 5.