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Selectmen tell resident to submit building permit for greenhouse; board cites zoning and RSA limits
Summary
A resident's plan to install a greenhouse prompted months of correspondence; the Selectmen told the applicant to file a permit with the building office so the town can determine whether the structure is exempt as agricultural or requires zoning approvals and building permits under local ordinance and state RSA.
Selectmen told a resident seeking to erect a greenhouse that the proper next step is to submit a building permit and site diagram so town staff can evaluate setbacks, height and zoning compliance. Board members said they have met repeatedly with the applicant and tried to explain applicable local ordinances and state law but cannot make a final determination until the permit and plans are filed. The board discussed the distinctions between temporary and permanent structures, the local 200-square-foot threshold in the zoning code, and the possibility that newly established agricultural operations must follow the same site-plan, building-permit and variance processes as other uses. Selectmen acknowledged questions the applicant raised about state RSA provisions and tax assessment but said those matters are for the assessing office or, if needed, the zoning board after permit denial. Several members suggested the town attorney review the RSAs if the board wishes legal confirmation, but they also said it would be premature to engage counsel before the applicant files a permit. No enforcement action was taken at the meeting; the board’s stated direction was procedural: submit a permit with plans and stakes in the ground so staff can measure setbacks and advise whether variances or special exceptions are required.
