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Springfield selectmen review short-term-rental applications, Planning Board to hold hearings
Summary
The Board of Selectmen reviewed several short-term-rental (STR) applications and zoning updates Nov. 24; the Planning Board will continue rulemaking and hold a public hearing as it finalizes ordinance and site-plan revisions, and the Zoning Coordinator encouraged numbering conditional-use permits to aid enforcement.
The Springfield Board of Selectmen on Nov. 24 reviewed a batch of short-term-rental (STR) applications and a package of zoning amendments that the Planning Board will consider this month.
Zoning Coordinator and Health Officer Tim Bray told the Board five STR matters are active: David Saggese is completing a site-plan application; Jose Ossa Concha’s application (115 Woodcrest Rd.) was denied by the Planning Board in July for lack of information after a ZBA special exception; Andre Keplar received a ZBA approval with conditions and is preparing materials for site-plan review; Anthony Pavati’s 2022 special exception remains unresolved with no new submittal; and Bernard and Katrina Cahill are completing an application that Bray recommended be placed on the January Planning Board agenda.
Bray said the Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing on proposed zoning-ordinance amendments (Section 7.2) related to STRs and other site-plan regulation changes. He told the Board the town’s new permitting packet is nearly finished and suggested the Planning Board consider numbering conditional-use permits so permit status can be tracked by outside platforms; he also noted Airbnb and VRBO had exhibited municipal regulatory toolkits at the NHMA conference and indicated a willingness to coordinate with towns.
Why it matters: the amendments respond to state-level changes and aim to clarify the town’s site-plan process and enforcement options for short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and Class VI road access. The Planning Board continued its review to Dec. 4 and will hold a public hearing on Dec. 20, after which amended regulations could move to the town warrant.
Procedural note: the Board voted to accept the Zoning Coordinator/Health Officer report as presented.
The meeting record does not contain verbatim testimony from applicants; the status updates above are summarized from the Zoning Coordinator’s report as presented to the Board.
