Summary
A longtime resident, Colleen La Perrier, told the board that a neighbor installed a second driveway without permits and that heavy equipment shook her slab‑built home; board members advised she submit a dated written complaint to the building department, city engineer and solicitor for enforcement review.
Colleen La Perrier, a Sunset Road resident, complained at the Aug. 19 meeting that a neighbor had installed an unpermitted second driveway adjacent to her home and that excavation and heavy equipment had caused shaking and dust that she says affected her health and could threaten slab‑based home systems.
La Perrier said the work was done without required permits and that the new pavement and disturbed soils could direct silt, rocks and possible petroleum residues into a nearby catch basin and the city stormwater system. She told the board the neighbor had long parked commercial vehicles and a recreational trailer on his property and that the recent work included adding hard surfaces without the required setbacks. “It’s actually affecting my health,” she said while describing alleged property and environmental impacts.
Board members and on‑duty staff emphasized the board itself has no enforcement authority; they advised La Perrier to put her allegations in a dated, written complaint to the building commissioner, city engineer and the city solicitor. Board members noted that the building department and zoning enforcement are the appropriate enforcement channels for unpermitted work and that conservation staff could assess potential wetland or soils jurisdiction. One board member said the complaint should be date‑stamped so the building department must respond within its statutory timeline.
Board members described limited on‑the‑spot actions: an inspector from the building department had previously visited the site and waited for the property owner, and the city engineer had been made aware. The board cautioned that it must avoid substantive discussion that could prejudice a later appeal if the matter is brought before the board.
La Perrier said she would send the board and city staff the letter she prepared and include dates and details of the disturbance so enforcement staff can inspect and take appropriate action. The board did not open a formal enforcement proceeding; no vote or order was issued during the meeting.
