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Board provisionally clears exterior work for Benson change-of-use; septic and truck access remain open
Summary
Rick and Nan Benson won ZBA clearance to proceed with certain exterior changes to convert a church at 3323 US Route 7 into a grocery/deli, but the board and staff flagged that the change of use may require a wastewater permit amendment and that safe delivery truck routing and Selectboard easement approval must be resolved.
The Zoning Board on March 5 approved exterior construction elements tied to a proposed change of use at 3323 US Route 7, where Rick and Nan Benson propose relocating the Gilfeather’s store into a converted church building. The board agreed that exterior items such as an egress stair, front canopy, septic and a deck near the belltower would not increase the degree of nonconformance and can proceed, while the overall change of use review will continue to address wastewater and access requirements.
Rick Benson said the plan is to relocate the existing Gilfeather’s to the larger space and that deliveries would include box trucks and cooler-truck deliveries twice weekly. He described operating hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (closed Monday) and said he would seek a truck exit connecting to Atkins Farm Road or the driveway behind the Town Hall to avoid delivery trucks turning in the main parking area. Katie Hill noted two separate applications had been filed for the parcel—one for change of use (25-012) and one for new exterior construction (25-022)—and recommended keeping septic design tied to 25-012 because it relates to the change of use.
Craig Heindel pointed out that the existing wastewater permit was for a banquet hall at 910 gallons per day and that a change of use could require an amendment; Heindel also noted indoor seating would change wastewater calculations (30 gallons per day per seat). Chair Norm Smith and zoning staff said the property is subject to a Selectboard easement requiring Selectboard approval of exterior changes; the board approved the exterior changes unanimously and directed staff to prepare a written decision within 45 days while staff and the applicant resolve septic and truck-access issues.
Next steps: zoning staff will prepare the decision and the applicant must clarify wastewater-permit needs and deliver evidence of acceptable truck routing or rights to connect to adjacent roadways.
