Board sets February hearing (with possible continuation) for proposed inn at Plat 6‑3‑3; staff flags parking, minimum‑housing and waivers

The New Shoreham Zoning Board of Review set a hearing for an application by Thomas Martucci on behalf of owner Louis Gaffett for a special‑use permit to change the use at Plat 6‑3‑3 to an inn. The board tentatively scheduled the item for the February 26 meeting with the understanding the applicant may continue to March 26 if required.

Board members and staff reviewed the application at the January acceptance meeting and listed multiple missing items and waivers. Chair Kate Atwater Butcher and zoning official Jen Brady noted that the special standards chart and several checklist items were incomplete or missing. The board recorded waiver requests for composite site plan, aerial photos, economic impact report, toxic‑hazard analysis, open‑space management plan, traffic analysis and modal/auto‑dependency analysis.

Jen Brady told the applicant that planning and conservation review would occur; earlier in the discussion she clarified that the planning board now provides an advisory opinion rather than acting as a required gatekeeper for this application. "The planning board is now merely an advisory. You do not need to go to the planning board, but you can ask for them to provide an advisory opinion prior to the hearing," Brady said.

Board members emphasized specific substantive issues the applicant must address before or at the hearing: a parking plan tied to the new use (parking standards differ for restaurants, inns and year‑round housing), compliance with the town’s minimum housing standards for room sizes, and clarification of the commercial kitchen’s role (the transcript notes the commercial kitchen on the first floor is intended to remain as a prep kitchen serving a different property). Chair Butcher said the board will expect a parking analysis and evidence that minimum housing standards are met.

The board also directed the applicant to submit a completed special standards chart and site plan at least 10 days before the hearing and indicated the application will go to the conservation commission and possibly receive an advisory review from planning. The applicant and board agreed to try for a February hearing; if planning or conservation review delays the item, the board will continue the matter to the March 26 meeting.

Why it matters: a change of use to an inn triggers different development standards (parking, occupancy/room size and public‑safety considerations) than prior uses. The applicant has requested multiple waivers; the board and staff will need completed materials to evaluate compliance with zoning and minimum‑housing standards.

The board recorded the scheduling motion by voice; the transcript records members saying "Aye" but does not list roll‑call vote counts.