Owner withdraws Masonic‑lodge conversion application; will refile as home‑occupation variance

Owner Sarah Seaver presented a proposal to convert the former Masonic Lodge at 40 Charlonne St (Map 238 Lot 46) into a residence with an owner‑operated online/wholesale antiques business occupying about 1,800 square feet of the 4,680 square‑foot building. Seaver said the operation would be wholesale and by appointment only, have fewer than three non‑resident employees, and would not be open to the general public. She described the change as reducing traffic and noise compared with the prior assembly‑hall use and said the building would be rehabilitated and maintained.

Board members discussed whether the application should proceed as a Special Exception or as a variance from Section V, 5.17.1 (home occupations). After hearing support from nearby residents and some procedural uncertainty about the proper relief, Seaver chose to withdraw the current application without prejudice and submit a new application specifically seeking a variance under Section V, 5.17.1. The withdrawal was recorded and no vote on the merits occurred that evening.