ZBA approves parking variance for Northern Fair/Norden Enterprises; planning issue flagged over on-site logs

The Goshen Zoning Board of Adjustment approved an area variance to allow additional parking stalls at the Northern Fair / Norden Enterprises property, while noting an unresolved issue over logs and firewood stored on the site that remains subject to planning-board review.

Board members reopened the continued public hearing and reviewed prior site-plan and parking-stall counts dating to a 1983 approved plan. The applicant sought relief from the number and location of parking stalls at the front of the building and confirmation that the existing impervious surface coverage complies with code. The ZBA conducted the five-factor test for the requested area variance and, after discussion, voted to grant the variance with general planning conditions.

A primary topic of public comment and board questioning was an on-site accumulation of logs (separate from retail firewood) that neighbors and the board said had been present for some time. The applicant stated that most of the firewood stockpile has been sold and that remaining logs were being cut up and removed, estimating “about 35%” of the stockpile remained. Board members and public speakers repeatedly emphasized that log storage and related site-management issues were largely within the planning board’s purview; the ZBA recorded the condition as a planning-board item to be resolved and advised notifying the Department of Transportation because of sight-line and traffic concerns on the abutting roadway.

Speakers at the hearing described safety concerns exiting the site onto a high-speed road and emphasized that screening (trees or landscaping) might create sight-line problems. Officer Jim Post (Lieutenant, Goshen Police Department) was referenced by a speaker as a source for accident reports to illustrate traffic concerns; multiple commenters said visibility and speed of traffic made planting a screening buffer potentially hazardous. The board suggested the planning board consider screening options but declined to impose a specific screening condition given specified sight-line and utility-line constraints at the site.

Board members concluded the benefits sought by the applicant would be difficult but feasible to accomplish by alternative means (such as removing stalls), and that the proposed variance was not expected to create adverse environmental impacts. The motion to grant the variance passed with the board’s general conditions and a note to the planning board to follow up on log and firewood removal as a condition of site-plan approval.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Grant area variance for additional parking stalls in front of the building (site-specific details in record); include general planning-board conditions and note outstanding log/firewood issue for planning-board enforcement. - Outcome: Approved (unanimous among board members present).

Clarifying details - Historical plan: Approved site plan from 1983 documented original parking layout (15 stalls in front of building split into 10 + 5), which informed the board’s analysis. - Firewood/logs: Applicant estimated about 35% of logs remain on site; applicant stated logs are being cut up and sold. - Safety concerns: Several public speakers noted difficulty entering/exiting the site and urged DOT notification concerning speed and sight lines.

Next steps Planning staff will incorporate the ZBA’s decision into the site-plan review with the planning board and document the log/firewood removal as a planning condition; the board suggested notifying DOT for input on roadway safety where appropriate.