P&Z approves fabric‑covered equipment shelter at Burning Tree Country Club with environmental safeguards

The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a final site plan and special permit on June 23 for a fabric‑covered, pipe‑framed equipment structure at Burning Tree Country Club (120 Perkins Road).

Applicant representatives described a 62-by-45-foot fabric structure sited on the club’s long‑used recycling area and supported on jumbo concrete blocks (no deep excavation). Wetlands staff issued permit #2026‑18 for the work; DPW engineering provided comments on elevations for a proposed rain garden to manage runoff. The club said no electricity or permanent water service is at the site and that most stored equipment (snowplows, leaf collectors and seasonal tractors) is used only seasonally and will be brought to the main maintenance facility in season.

Conservation staff raised concerns about wildlife entering an open‑ended fabric structure and about storage of fuels, lubricants or chemicals. The applicant said no fuels or chemicals would be stored in the shelter and agreed to consider full enclosure or other measures to discourage wildlife occupancy. The commission attached conditions requiring an architect affidavit on volume, documentation addressing volume/permits over 150,000 cubic feet, that future lighting be reviewed by ARC under Section 614, and that the applicant work with Wetlands/Conservation to ensure no fuel or oil leakage from stored equipment.

Commissioners also recorded that DPW and health department comments must be addressed prior to zoning/building permits. The motion passed unanimously 5-0.