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ZBA debates whether storage containers count as structures; tax implications noted
Summary
Board members reviewed whether storage containers are 'structures' under Bartlett policy, noting a prior town vote concluding they are not; members also discussed tax assessment implications and whether the unit’s orientation or screening should be required.
Board members discussed the town’s prior determination that storage containers are not 'structures' and how that status affects setbacks and assessment.
Scott Grant and Peter Gagne referenced a prior application and a town vote that led the board to treat containers as non-structural for certain rules; Grant cautioned the prior case involved railroad setbacks, not side-yard rules. Grant also told the minutes the placement was "a taxable event," indicating the board was considering assessment and tax implications of the container even if it is not a structure.
Members debated options to minimize impact on neighbors, including reorienting the unit or planting screening. The applicant said he did not want to rotate the container because of prevailing winds and snow; the board suggested small trees as a mitigation measure.
The discussion did not change the board’s procedural approach to the special exception already granted but clarified that classification (structure vs. non-structure) and tax assessment are separate matters for town officials to address.
