GLENBURN – Planning Board members, the Town Council and the town’s attorney met Thursday to discuss issuing a subdivision moratorium ordinance.

The proposed regulation would put a stop to accepting, processing, reviewing, denying, approving or issuing any application, permit, license or approval for any subdivision located in Glenburn after May 13, which is the next regularly scheduled planning board meeting.

Town Attorney Tom Russell, in a memo dated April 18, states there are five subdivisions in the application pipeline. Under the draft proposal for a moratorium, all but one subdivision under consideration would be exempt from the moratorium.

Representatives from two Glenburn subdivisions were at the meeting and both wanted to know how the proposal would affect their projects. Countryside Estates builder Bruce Watson said if the moratorium is approved it will stop the third phase of the Countryside subdivision in its tracks.

“I agree that you need subdivision rules,” he said. “What we’re [disagreeing with] is how you’re doing it.”

Countryside recently submitted a 13-lot sketch plan, which is the first of three steps under the existing subdivision ordinance adopted in February 1986. These 13 lots would be affected by the proposed moratorium.

For nearly a year, the planning board has been working on a new subdivision ordinance. After the plan is complete, the full board and council will review it, then a public hearing will be held before the council votes to either approve or disapprove of the proposed ordinance.

The number of subdivisions in Glenburn has increased from 14 in 2000 to 21 in 2002, many of which are 10 to 15 units. This increase has caused concern with town officials about building and road code enforcement, fire hazards and protection and fees.

“These rules were great in the ’70s and ’80s when this town was a rural town,” said Tim Hodgkins, chair of the planning board. “We need to monitor the growth of this town. We feel the best way to do this is to have some updated guidelines.”