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Historic Preservation Commission denial of Library landscaping appealed to ZBA; Selectboard briefed
Summary
CHPC chair said the commission denied the Library's landscaping application in October and the Library appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which remanded the matter back to CHPC to prepare Findings of Fact; the board was briefed on options and deadlines for ordinance amendments.
Marc Pelletier, chair of the Castine Historic Preservation Commission, told the Selectboard that CHPC has reviewed roughly half a dozen applications and approved all but one: the Library's landscaping proposal, which CHPC denied on Oct. 15, 2024. Pelletier said the Library appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBOA); ZBOA has remanded the matter back to CHPC to prepare Findings of Fact that accompany the denial. Once ZBOA issues a decision CHPC's denial could be upheld, in which case the Library could appeal to Superior Court, or ZBOA could overturn the denial and allow the project to proceed.
Pelletier said CHPC earlier submitted proposed amendments to the Historic Preservation Ordinance (HPO) to the CEO but had not received a status update; the commission may instead submit revisions directly to the Selectboard. Town Clerk Susan Macomber reminded members that any proposed ordinance changes intended for the May Town Meeting warrant must meet public‑hearing and town‑report deadlines.
The Selectboard thanked Pelletier and CHPC for their work and noted the procedural steps ahead: CHPC will draft Findings of Fact as requested by ZBOA, and the town will track ZBOA scheduling and potential further appeals. No board action was taken other than receiving the report.
