Goshen zoning board hears neighbor dispute over outdoor storage, farm exemptions at 39 Everett Road

The Goshen Zoning Board heard extended testimony over outdoor storage and farm exemptions at 35 and 39 Everett Road during a public hearing brought by the owners of 35 Everett. Attorneys for the 35 Everett owners asked the board to allow the town’s code enforcement officer to determine whether vehicles and outdoor materials on 39 Everett violate local zoning rules requiring screening and setbacks for commercial vehicles.

The request, made by attorney Matt Behrens on behalf of Carrie Bu and Sean Bu of 35 Everett, focused on enforcement of two zoning provisions: section 97-59(b)(1), which requires screening of outdoor storage from neighboring properties, and section 97-59(b)(4), which prohibits parking commercial vehicles where visible from adjoining properties unless those vehicles are demonstrably used in legitimate farming operations. Behrens said the vehicles and other materials along the immediate property line were placed deliberately to harass his clients. "This is a clear zoning code violation," Behrens said, asking the board to confirm that the code enforcement officer may investigate and issue violations.

The Bu homeowners described ongoing, personal impacts. "I no longer access our backyard where we put a huge fire pit. We have a koi pond ... we no longer do that," Carrie Bu told the board, describing removed screening plantings, trucks parked near…