Norwich — If you have any thoughts on whether Norwich should ease or tighten zoning regulations regarding livestock, or short-term rentals or even the best way to promote historic preservation, the city planning staff wants to hear from you.

The Planning and Neighborhood Services Department will host “Zoning and ‘Za,” a public forum on zoning matters with free pizza from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Foundry 66, the Norwich Community Development Corp.’s shared workspace at 66 Franklin St.

At the forum, described as a “free flow open house format,” residents and business owners will have the chance to discuss zoning matters and propose suggestions with Deanna Rhodes, director of planning and neighborhood services, Assistant City Planner Dan Daniska and Zoning Enforcement Officer Richard Shuck. The Planning and Neighborhood Services Department will work on proposed zoning regulation changes and potential map changes this winter, Rhodes said.

Among the issues up for discussion will be questions on livestock, short-term rentals such as Airbnb, and whether to make changes to an existing non-site-specific overlay zone meant to encourage reuse of historic buildings.

Rhodes said her office receives frequent complaints about chickens. Current zoning regulations allow “buildings for housing livestock or poultry for domestic use” in all residential zones as an accessory use. Keeping grazing animals, such as goats, is allowed in the larger one- or two-acre residential zones as an accessory use.

Another potential hot topic is short-term rentals. During a recent State of the City forum, hosted by the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce, NCDC President Robert Mills estimated Norwich has about 100 short-term rentals, which hurts the local hotel market.

Rhodes said residents should weigh in on how or even whether the city should attempt to regulate short-term rentals.

Mills said he only knows of a couple of short-term rental owners who are discussing their situation with city officials.

“With current zoning, we’re ill equipped to handle a single-family home being rented out in this manner,” Mills said. “We just don’t have zoning regulations that address this.”

Mills said towns that have enacted regulations usually require insurance coverage, and homeowners considering short-term rentals likely are not aware that their homeowners’ insurance does not cover the usage.

The current zoning regulations include an adaptive reuse overlay designation in which a developer would have to seek permission to “land” the overlay zone on a property with a specific proposed use, Rhodes said. The purpose of the overlay is to "encourage restoration and preservation of existing buildings of historic value" and is allowed by special permit.

Planning officials could consider whether to place the adaptive reuse in specific locations and whether to change the list of uses allowed. The list now includes restaurants and tourist homes. The buildings either must be on the National Register of Historic Places or owners can present proof of historic significance through a historic resource survey.

Rhodes said another discussion could be on potential commercial uses the city should consider either allowing or prohibiting.

“We’re going to leave it as a free flow discussion,” Rhodes said. “It’s an opportunity for the community to come out and help us conduct a comprehensive review of zoning.”

c.bessette@theday.com