West Tisbury voters will decide this spring on a proposed bylaw that aims to prevent residential overbuilding in the town.

The planning board voted unanimously Monday night to place the draft bylaw, dubbed the Preserve West Tisbury bylaw, on the annual town meeting warrant.

“Now we can have the public hearings,” board member Matt Merry said.

A town subcommittee has been working for more than two years to draft the proposed bylaw, which is modeled after one passed by Chilmark voters in 2013.

Like Chilmark’s bylaw, the proposed West Tisbury rules call for a special permit review when residential construction reaches a square-footage limit determined by lot size.

The West Tisbury draft also requires special permit applicants to submit more details about their landscaping and grading plans, and to meet heightened environmental and energy-efficiency standards.

The draft of the bylaw is posted on the town website with edits reflecting changes made after two public meetings held by the planning board in January.

“We’ve made it much more flexible, much more open,” said subcommittee and planning board member Amy Upton at Monday’s meeting.

Among the changes, the bylaw now excludes up to 300 square feet of screened porches from the total living space allowed and adds garages to the list of structures that are eligible for extra square footage.

If approved by town voters and the state attorney general, the bylaw would go into effect June 1.

Planning board member Reid Silva said the lag time would allow property owners with existing construction plans to complete the application process under current regulations before the stricter bylaw kicks in.

“People spent a lot of money and a lot of time and effort and planning . . . They just don’t have that final building permit,” said Mr. Silva, a land surveyor and engineer.

Ms. Upton opposed the delayed start date, saying the bylaw should take effect as soon as it is approved.

“[We’re] letting the last few big horses out of the barn and then shutting the door,” she said. “It’s a slippery slope.”

But both Mr. Silva and builder Scott Stearns, who also attended Monday’s meeting, said the lead time is nowhere near enough for any large new residential projects to slide in under the deadline.

“If it’s not already drawn, there’s no chance,” Mr. Stearns said. “It takes years for these projects.”

The board voted 4-1 for the June 1 start.

The draft bylaw now heads to town counsel for legal review before it is officially added to the warrant, after which the planning board will schedule a hearing.

“That’s when the public gets the ability to speak,” Mr. Merry said.

Also Monday, the board confirmed John Rau as an alternate member, replacing Ms. Upton, who became an appointed regular member last year and is running for election to the seat.

Board chairman Leah Smith encouraged Mr. Rau to take out papers for an elected planning board seat as well, noting that longtime member Bea Phear will step down at the end of her term this spring.

Nomination papers for town offices are available now at West Tisbury town hall, with a filing deadline of 5 p.m. Feb. 24. Vacancies exist on the planning board, board of assessors and select board, the latter a one-year term filling the late Kent Healy’s seat.