Council asks planning board to clarify rules on Split Rock mobile‑home park expansion
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Summary
Attorneys and the planner debated whether the council or planning board has authority to approve an expansion of the Split Rock mobile‑home park; the council voted to let the planning board review the new information and asked the applicant either to pursue a planning application or a zoning‑ordinance amendment as appropriate.
An application to expand the Split Rock mobile‑home park prompted a prolonged discussion about competing authorities under the town’s licensing and zoning ordinances. Attorney Jeff Caffrey, representing the applicant, said the council has express authority under ordinance 26‑36 to consider expansions of existing parks and argued the applicant should not be forced to restart an expensive engineering process if the planning board’s input can be advisory.
Council and planning‑board representatives disagreed on process. Planning board counsel asked for the opportunity to clarify discrepancies and recommended that the applicant file a major‑land‑development application so the planning board could provide thorough advisory recommendations. The council’s solicitor warned that approving an expansion absent zoning clarity could expose the town to legal challenges because trailer parks are not expressly permitted under current zoning in all districts.
After back‑and‑forth about drafting an ordinance amendment versus returning to planning with engineered plans, council members voted to give the planning board an opportunity to clarify the issue by modifying the Exeter zoning ordinance if needed and to have the applicant file a major‑land‑development application so the planning board can advise the council. The motion passed; the council directed staff to work with the applicant and planning staff on next steps and timelines.