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Winchester IWWC grants 65-day extension for 150 Shore Drive amid concerns about unpermitted work
Summary
The Inland Wetlands Watercourse Commission granted a full 65-day extension for a modification application for 150 Shore Drive but raised concerns about a stairwell built near the property line and limited building‑department staffing to enforce approvals.
The Inland Wetlands Watercourse Commission on April 16 approved a requested 65‑day extension for the permit application to modify the property at 150 Shore Drive, moving the review to the commission’s June meeting. The commission also flagged possible unapproved construction near the property line and asked staff to follow up.
Commission Chair Steven Molinelli opened the item confirming the application (IWWC 20‑5‑1) and noted that consultants requested the full 65‑day extension. The extension was approved by motion and the vote was recorded as unanimous.
Commissioners said they had observed site work that may go beyond the approved plans. One commissioner reported seeing a stairwell or entrance cut toward the neighboring parcel and estimated the structure might bring the building closer to the property line by an additional 4 to 6 feet. Commissioners asked staff to inspect the stairwell and the cellar entrance and to determine whether the work exceeds the approved plans.
Staff and commissioners discussed enforcement capacity. The commission heard that the town currently has an interim building official and that the full building official is on site part‑time; commissioners said limited building‑department availability has made follow‑up slower and urged the town to make enforcement a priority. The commission asked staff to review the building plans with a building inspector and report back before the June meeting.
The commission emphasized that if the work built in the field is inconsistent with the approved plan the property owner may be required to remove non‑conforming elements. The commission did not order removal at the meeting; it granted the extension while directing staff to inspect and report.
Larger procedural notes: commissioners said the applicant’s surveyor is still completing a survey that staff expects to receive before the June meeting, and the engineer has indicated drainage work is pending that survey.
The extension motion passed unanimously; no fines or enforcement directives were issued at the meeting, but staff will follow up on the stairwell and any plan inconsistencies.
