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SAC: businesses in historic district will need special exceptions; historical society use may be affected
Summary
At the June 3 meeting Jay Goodell and Rebecca Schwarz told the SAC that new businesses in the historic district require a special exception or variance; they said municipal uses may be treated differently but nonprofit entities, including the historical society, would generally need an exception for business uses. The Heritage Commission was urged to reconsider second-floor plans given new library meeting space.
Jay Goodell, presenter on zoning, told the SAC that the historic district’s rules mean new businesses will typically need a special exception or a variance. Rebecca Schwarz, presenter, clarified that while the town’s own use of the building does not necessarily trigger the same process, private or nonprofit business uses would still need a special exception and must make a compelling case that includes public input.
Goodell and Schwarz discussed procedural steps for obtaining a variance or special exception, emphasizing the legal test and the role of public comment. Tim Berry, committee member, cited a past example in which a variance for a home business was granted to illustrate how the public input process operates.
Heather Allain, committee member, and Goodell also discussed how nonprofit organizations that pursue charitable or social purposes are considered businesses under zoning rules for these purposes; Schwarz specifically said the historical society would require a special exception if it intended to operate as a business in the space. Jay Goodell noted that the second-floor space is currently zoned residential and therefore any business use would trigger the exception process.
Separately, Schwarz referenced a 2018 conditions assessment that recommended moving town offices to the first floor and using the second floor as a meeting room and stage. Heather Allain suggested the Heritage Commission reconsider second-floor plans now that the new library provides meeting spaces; Schwarz said restoration is the current priority and public information sessions will follow.
No formal zoning decisions or variance approvals were made at the meeting; presenters agreed to return to the committee for future questions and public sessions.
