Planning board approves home bakery for Victoria Murray, pending board of health clearance

The Town of Hampden Planning Board voted to approve a home-occupation application allowing Victoria Murray to operate a small, by‑preorder bakery from her home at 25 Circle View Drive, provided she secures a board of health certificate. The board recorded the motion and a second and confirmed the approval condition.

Murray told the board she plans to focus on gluten‑free and specialty baked goods (motivated by a family medical need) and expects to sell by pre-order with limited weekend pickup windows to avoid generating unusual traffic. Board members reviewed the town’s home‑occupation rules (Section 7.12), noting limits such as no exterior storage, no permanent signage beyond what the sign bylaw permits, and that the use must be incidental to the residence.

A board discussion clarified that Murray does not plan a café or seating, does not expect employees beyond household members, and will use a removable pickup stand and driveway/backyard area for orders. She reported a board of health inspection scheduled for the coming Monday and confirmed trash containers are covered.

A planning board member moved to approve the application for 25 Circle View Drive for Victoria Murray with the condition that the board of health certificate be approved; another member seconded the motion and vocal assent was recorded.

The board noted recordkeeping for home‑occupation permits (members referenced a town list of existing home occupations) and closed consideration of the item. The approval is conditioned on successful health inspection and any other standard permitting follow‑ups.