Zoning Board of Appeals
Minutes
March 20, 2013
Landuse Meeting Room
Members present: Acting Chair Shawn Leary Considine, (SLC); Cliff Snyder, (CS), Robert Fuster Sr. (RF); Jedd Hall, JH
Absent with notification: Ethan Berg, (EB); Ned Douglas, (ND)
Staff present: Mary Albertson, Town Planner, MA; Land Use Clerk Peggy Ammendola, (PA)
Scott Schiff, 4 Holmes Road (Map 49, Parcel 15), Special Permit or, in the alternative, a Variance from Sections 5.2.3— General Standards and 5.2.6—Signs in Commercial and Industrial Districts.
It was explained to Mr. Schiff that the Board normally consists of five members, but that the four members can hear his petition and make their decision, but in order to grant his request, all four would have to vote in favor. Other options given to Mr. Schiff were:
- This Board could hear the presentation, a fifth member could listen to the audio of this presentation and a decision could be rendered at a later date.
- He could wait until five members were available.
Mr. Schiff chose to proceed with the four members.
Mr. Schiff has established his automobile dealership at the same location as an existing business, Donovan’s Motorcar. Donovan’s has a 36 square foot non-conforming sign supported by two pylons and Mr. Schiff has a 32 square foot sign immediately below Donovan’s sign. Mr. Schiff’s sign is temporary, permitted by the Board of Selectmen, and he wishes to install a permanent sign in its place.
The Board agreed that this petition met the requirements of a Special Permit as the existing sign is non-conforming and this is extending the non-conformity.
There was neither correspondence nor members of the public present.
Mr. Schiff was advised that the Board would move into the decision phase of the hearing and that if he wanted to have a fifth member to listen to the audio before the Board made its decision he could. He preferred the four members vote tonight.
The lighting for the sign will be up-lighting.
CS made a motion to approve the petitioner’s request. RF seconded the motion and the Board voted to agree 4-0.
The Board felt that it should be clear that this sign, a total of 68 square feet, was for two separate businesses, so that if the second business no longer existed at this location, one business at this location would not be entitled to one sign of that size.
RF made a motion there be a condition that the sign that the Board is approving is for two separate signs for two separate businesses. CS seconded the motion. The Board voted to approve 4-0.
Approve minutes:
February 6, 2013 minutes were approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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