New Ashford officials tell Brodie Mountain LLC to seek new permits after building ruled abandoned

Brodie Mountain LLC representatives told New Ashford officials on Aug. 12 that they intend to secure and stabilize the former ski‑area property and remove hazardous equipment, but town regulators said the owners must start the permitting process from scratch.

Project contractor Matt Ostrander said the company "wants to clean up the vandalism" on the property, and project manager Anthony Gregorio said they "want to secure the property," including removing unsafe ski‑lift components and making the pumphouse area safe. The property—about 88 acres, officials said—includes a 12‑unit building the company proposed to maintain.

But Building Inspector B.J. Church told the gathering the 12‑unit structure is "classified as abandoned, due to two years of no use," and that the 2007 resort‑overlay plans previously associated with the site are no longer valid. Church said those older plans are not up to current building codes and that "nothing is grandfathered; Brodie needs to start over from scratch with new plans." He said a certificate of occupancy for the building would require Planning Board approval of a new use and compliance with current code for the entire structure.

Planning Board member Steve Jennings noted that the resort district overlay approvals from 2007 "are no longer valid as they were not acted upon," meaning the owners must submit a new special‑permit application and hard‑copy plans that define proposed uses. The Planning Board may hire experts at the owner's expense to review those plans.

Brodie Mountain said it will file a Notice of Intent with the Conservation Commission to repair a collapsed culvert to allow Fire Department access, to make the pumphouse area safe (which lies in the Riverfront resource area), and to remove ski‑lift equipment located within the pond resource area. Conservation Commission members agreed their jurisdiction ends at the limits of mapped resource areas; work inside resource areas will require separate review and approvals.

Plumbing and Gas Inspector Walker Haig said he must witness a pressure test for any plumbing work, and the Board of Health told the owners a Title V inspection is necessary. Officials also said existing fire‑suppression plans and piping are not up to current code and that a holding tank would be required for a compliant sprinkler system.

The Conservation Commission voted to allow securing the buildings, performing repair and maintenance, and removing ski‑lift equipment that lies outside resource areas; members Lori Trottier, Ken McInerney and Helen Majchrowski voted in favor and Susan Supranowicz abstained. Town officials emphasized that removal of hazardous equipment and repairs outside resource areas may proceed, but any change in use or occupancy of the 12‑unit structure must go through the Planning Board and meet all building‑code and health requirements before a certificate of occupancy can be considered.

The board instructed Brodie Mountain LLC to submit hard copy building plans and a clear usage proposal to the Planning Board. Once the Planning Board approves a use, Building Inspector B.J. Church said he will advise the owners on the code requirements necessary for permitting and occupancy. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. on a motion by Ken McInerney, seconded by Jason Jayko.