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Kennebunk BAR denies two abatement appeals; votes at a glance
Summary
At its March 30 meeting the Board of Assessment Review denied two abatement requests: 220 Sea Road was denied 3–0 and 4 Chase Hill Road was denied 2–1. Both decisions rested on the applicants' failure to provide market evidence sufficient to show the assessments were "manifestly wrong."
The Town of Kennebunk Board of Assessment Review heard two abatement appeals on March 30 and denied both. For 220 Sea Road (Littlefield) the board voted 3–0 to deny after the owner presented concerns about view, noise and privacy; the assessor described the town's mass appraisal process and the use of a land-residual technique. For 4 Chase Hill Road (Wihbey Realty Trust) the board voted 2–1 to deny after the owner argued zoning and comparable sales made the land allocation inequitable; the assessor described the Chase Hill market as in a "period of transition" and noted a prior $55,000 correction to the tax card.
Motions and votes at a glance:
- 220 Sea Road (Map 072 Lot 222): Motion to deny by Wayne Berry, seconded by Tom Wellman; vote 3–0 to uphold the assessment.
- 4 Chase Hill Road (Map 088 Lot 020): Motion to deny by Tom Wellman, seconded by Richard Smith; vote 2–1 to uphold the assessment (Wayne Berry dissenting).
The meeting was called to order by Chair Richard Smith at 4:00 p.m., concluded at 7:01 p.m., and was recorded. The BAR noted the legal standard for abatement hearings places the burden on appellants to show the assessment is "manifestly wrong," and both appeals were denied on that basis.
