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Select Board pauses enforcement and refers reapplication for commercial activity at lot 216.0350 to planning board
Summary
After months of disputed activity at lot 216.0350, the Select Board agreed to let a new planning-board application proceed and tabled a cease-and-desist, citing that outstanding planning-board waivers and minor comments can be handled with a conditional approval.
The Select Board discussed long-running land-use issues at parcel 216.0350 and voted to defer enforcement while the planning board reviews a newly filed application.
Town Administrator Mark Kennedy reviewed the site’s history: a farmhouse and barn were removed, ground asphalt and large wooden mats (used historically for power-line access across wetlands) were brought in at earlier times, and more recent substantial activity involving staging and sales prompted planning-board scrutiny. Kennedy said the planning-board file contains comment letters from the town engineer and others; in his view, outstanding issues are "very minor" and could be handled by conditional approval or by granting specific waivers.
Because the owner missed the last planning-board meeting and has now refiled, the Select Board voted to table the cease-and-desist and allow the planning board to hold a public hearing (the planning-board public hearing was scheduled for Jan. 8). One Select Board member proposed a Feb. 1 deadline for an approved site plan before the board would impose fees; the board instead favored letting the planning process move forward and to revisit enforcement if the planning board denied the application.
"Now that this is substantial activity, wanting to sell goods on the site, ... a site plan is required," the town administrator said, summarizing the change in circumstances. The board’s motion to table and send the matter to the planning board passed unanimously.
Next steps: planning-board public hearing on Jan. 8; staff will monitor progress and report back to the Select Board for any further enforcement or follow-up.
