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Greenland board denies continuance for 24 Shore Drive wetland exemption; applicant may reapply
Summary
The Greenland Board of Selectmen declined a request to further continue a special-exemption hearing for 24 Shore Drive under the town zoning wetlands rules, voting to deny the continuance 'without prejudice' so the applicant can resubmit; members cited prior continuances and a 90-day timeline.
The Greenland Board of Selectmen on Sept. 17 declined a second continuance of a hearing on a special exemption for 24 Shore Drive and indicated the applicant may reapply.
The meeting record shows Unidentified Speaker 1 introduced the application, saying the owners, Hedge Apple Farmland LLC, were "requesting a special exemption according to the Greenland Zoning Ordinance article 18" for wetlands protection, citing subsection 18.10.1, which allows certain construction inside wetland setbacks. The applicant asked for more time to complete materials; Unidentified Speaker 1 moved to continue the hearing to Oct. 15 with conditions, and Unidentified Speaker 2 seconded that motion.
Board members then debated procedure and timelines. Unidentified Speaker 3 said this was the second continuance request and cited the board's statutory 90-day decision window tied to the original July 16 submission. “This is the second continuance this person has asked for,” Unidentified Speaker 3 said, arguing the board should consider denying the request to avoid legal confusion about multiple continuances. Speakers also noted abutters had been notified and would incur an approximately $200 cost if the board re-notified them for another hearing.
After discussion, Unidentified Speaker 3 moved that the board deny the continuance "without prejudice," allowing the applicant to resubmit at a later date; the motion was seconded and several members responded "Aye." The board recorded the motion as approved. The motion's text, as stated in the meeting, was to deny the action to continue "without prejudice," meaning the filing could be made again rather than the board issuing a final substantive decision on the exemption at that time.
The board did not record a full roll-call tally in the provided transcript excerpt. Town counsel, as referenced in the discussion, had reportedly recommended giving the applicant one more chance but noted the board should require meaningful progress before allowing further continuances.
What happens next: The applicant may refile the exemption request. The board asked that removed site stakes be reinstalled so reviewers can assess how the proposed construction would sit on the lot. The board also indicated it will expect demonstrable progress with any future resubmission.
Notes: The application was described as filed by Hedge Apple Farmland LLC. The transcript identifies the zoning authority cited as Greenland Zoning Ordinance Article 18, wetlands protection, subsection 18.10.1.
