ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MINUTES
APRIL 25, 2006
PUBLIC SESSION
APPROVED BY THE BOARD JUNE 6, 2006
PRESENT: ABSENT:
Mr. Doug Leib, Chair Mr. Kevin Bassett
Mr. Earle Rourke Mr. Kevin Jordan
Mr. Jim Howard
Mr. John Morin
OTHERS PRESENT:
Ms. Kelly Tivnan, ZBA Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Mr. Rourke made a motion to approve the minutes of February 21, 2006. Mr. Morin seconded the motion. Mr. Leib, Mr. Morin and Mr. Rourke voted in favor of the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
ALTERNATE:
Mr. Leib said that Mr. Howard was an alternate who would be sitting in as a regular member.
PUBLIC HEARING- CHRIS ALBERT:
Mr. Leib read the application which stated that Mr. Albert would like to build an indoor horseback riding arena on his property. Mr. Albert said that his neighbors would also use the arena but they were on vacation so they could not be at the meeting. Mr. Leib said that the Building Inspector did not have a problem with this application. Mr. Albert showed the Zoning Board pictures of his current outdoor arena and explained that it was difficult to ride outside with weather. He said that he had left the trees as a wind buffer and he said that he could not put anything in the wetlands so there was no other high, dry, flat geographic location on his property where he could build this. He said that this would be a frame building with a roof. He said that he was still working on the finite details of the frame
and he would put in the building in the fall. Mr. Rourke asked if there would be walls to the ground. Mr. Albert said yes. Mr. Leib asked how many horses Mr. Albert had. Mr. Albert said that there were about 20. He said that he had an ideal location with about 25 acres. Mr. Rourke asked how high the building would be. Mr. Albert said that he thought the building would have 14 foot high ceilings and would be 25 feet high. Mr. Leib asked how close the Smith house was to the property line. Mr. Albert said that the Smith house was not close to the property line at all. He said that the place they wanted to build the riding arena was in a secluded area that could barely be seen especially when the leaves were on the trees. Mr. Rourke asked about parking. Mr. Albert said that there was plenty of space for parking in the back. Mr. Leib explained the criteria that the Zoning Board used to make their decisions. Mr. Albert said that this project would have no negative impact on
open space or on the town and it would not lessen the property values of the surrounding property for the the neighbors.
Mr. Rourke made a motion that the Zoning Board of Adjustments approve the application of Christopher Albert. Mr. Howard seconded the motion. Mr. Rourke, Mr. Leib and Mr. Howard voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Morin abstained from the motion. The motion passed 3-0 with 1 abstention.
Mr. Morin asked about the requirements for a commercial property. Mr. Rourke said that Mr. Albert did not have a commercial property. He said that if Mr. Albert charged people to use the horseback riding arena than he would have to get permission for a change of use. Mr. Morin noted that Mr. Albert changed people to board horses on his property. Mr. Rourke said that Mr. Albert was not charging people to use his arena.
ELECTIONS:
Mr. Rourke made a motion to elect Doug Leib as Zoning Board Chair. Mr. Howard seconded the motion. The present members of the Zoning Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Leib made a motion to elect Earle Rourke as Vice-Chair. Mr. Morin seconded the motion. The present members of the Zoning Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Leib made a motion to elect John Morin as Clerk. Mr. Rourke seconded the motion. The present members of the Zoning Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Leib said that Mr. Bassett would like to be an alternate.
Mr. Rourke made a motion to appoint Mr. Bassett as an alternate to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Mr. Howard seconded the motion. The present members of the Zoning Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
BYLAW NOTE:
Mr. Leib noted that the Zoning Board bylaws said there was a 30 day appeal period and the Zoning Ordinance said there was a 20 day appeal period.
Mr. Rourke made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:50pm. Mr. Leib seconded the motion. The present members of the Zoning Board voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The motion passed 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Tivnan
Zoning Board of Adjustment Secretary
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