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Selectboard grants conditional permit for junkyard at 346 Walk after neighbor runoff concerns
Summary
After a public hearing, the Selectboard approved permits for two parcels at 346 Walk conditioned on completion of screening and other state‑required improvements; neighbors raised concerns about oil and fluid runoff to wells and the board required code‑enforcement sign‑off before licensing.
The Selectboard opened a statutorily required public hearing on a junkyard permit application covering two adjacent parcels at 346 Walk and heard neighbors express concern about environmental impacts and protections for animals and wells.
A nearby resident who said she lives downhill from the property testified, "I'm worried about the oil and all the fluids and everything from the vehicle going through ... We have all the liquids and everything's going to run down into our wells." Another neighbor told the board the applicant had operated for about 30 years without prior problems.
Staff described the application and site inspection materials in the meeting packet, noting that the applicant plans to consolidate the existing footprint, install additional fencing and meet state requirements for licensed junkyards, including contained storage and drainage procedures. The code enforcement officer told the board that the applicant "has an abundance of fencing there and ... will be installing the fence to meet those screening requirements" and that the officer will not sign the license until the screening and other improvements are complete.
On a motion to approve the permits, the board attached the code officer's recommended condition: final licensing will be contingent on completing the required screening and improvements. The chair confirmed that he would not sign the license until the conditions were met; the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote recorded as "all those in favor" in the transcript.
The decision requires the department to verify compliance with state junkyard rules before issuing a full license; the transcript records staff's plan to monitor the improvements and to withhold the license until the screening is in place.
