Transcript
SOURCE TRANSCRIPT
This transcript is downloaded from the source you provided but we haven't reviewed it for accuracy. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record. You can also request an AI-transcription of the audio file with the button to the left.
Copy of a YouTube video held by the Internet Archive.
Captions were copied from the YouTube video.
Captions were copied from the YouTube video.
[0:10]
All right, being the top of the hour,
[0:12]
call to order tonight's Sony Board of
[0:14]
Appeals meeting, August 19th, 2026 one
[0:19]
item on the agenda is a continuation of
[0:21]
the public hearing uh for zero break
[0:24]
road, the appeal decision, an adverse
[0:28]
decision from the building commissioner
[0:29]
request for variance and for special
[0:31]
permit. Uh
[0:34]
this is a continuation at the request of
[0:37]
the applicant from last meeting as we
[0:39]
were short timers. We are we have all
[0:41]
five members tonight. Uh so we can uh
[0:44]
get back. Um we'll do I'm expecting
[0:49]
we'll probably do a truncated version of how we normally do things as we've
[0:52]
already gone through everything before.
[0:54]
Um, and obviously I'll leave it to the
[0:56]
discretion of the members to the extent
[0:58]
that they have additional questions and
[0:59]
comments, but I will turn the floor over
[1:01]
to you all uh for at least a few minutes
[1:03]
to provide any sort of additional
[1:05]
information or if there's anything that
[1:07]
you wanted to respond to um that was
[1:11]
brought up at the um uh the beginning of
[1:13]
the public hearing or has come to light
[1:15]
since uh you're welcome to do so. So
[1:17]
with that, I'll turn the floor back over
[1:19]
to the
[1:20]
>> Hi everyone again. My name is Nick Mes,
[1:22]
longtime resident here, class of 94. Um,
[1:27]
I'm the president of the Stone Alliance
[1:29]
Club. Right now, I'm joined by Gord
[1:31]
Chava, my vice president. Um, Paul York,
[1:35]
our my treasurer. Uh, Phil Belts, um,
[1:38]
our board member, and Arie, one of our
[1:41]
charter members. He started this club 65
[1:45]
years ago. He purchased this plot of
[1:48]
land that we're talking about today. So
[1:51]
I thought in light of this discussion
[1:54]
there was a lot of conversation about
[1:56]
what was the land used before what is it
[1:59]
used throughout the 50 years year
[2:01]
period. We brought army as a
[2:05]
as living memory of this land. Um so um we are contesting the the
[2:14]
season is based off of 50 years of
[2:17]
continual
[2:19]
non
[2:21]
conforming use of this residential lot.
[2:24]
We didn't know it was residential at
[2:26]
all. Um, do you have to do that?
[2:31]
No. Um, I think what we'd like to do is,
[2:35]
uh, continue where we left off, which
[2:38]
was, I guess, about over a month ago
[2:40]
now. And, um, address any further
[2:43]
questions you might have.
[2:46]
And, uh,
[2:47]
>> would you like to tell the story? Yeah.
[2:49]
short speaker.
[2:50]
>> Okay. And Arie would like to speak, so
[2:53]
it's okay. We'd like to let him do that
[2:56]
right now. Of
[2:56]
>> course, I appreciate it. Okay. The thing
[2:59]
is, this land was purchased in in 78. We
[3:02]
purchased a big strawberry strawberry
[3:06]
field
[3:07]
and and and
[3:09]
at that time um let me see here. um all
[3:14]
right some purchases 78 not sure the
[3:19]
thing that got me is I don't know how it
[3:21]
became residential but at that time it
[3:23]
wasn't residential at all what what
[3:26]
really gets me is that even the office
[3:28]
complex across the street you know and
[3:32]
you got the gas station and you got the
[3:34]
liquor store and and how this land
[3:36]
became residential I I don't understand
[3:38]
it but um the thing is that um um I'll
[3:43]
tell you what we had on the land on the
[3:45]
land with many years ago. We had a car,
[3:48]
we had a carnival, we had a car a horse
[3:51]
show, we had a jeep um service, a jeep
[3:54]
swap, uh cow swap, we had all those
[3:57]
things many years ago. And then for
[4:00]
years we had the spring, the fall fall
[4:03]
flea market and that food trailer was
[4:05]
there all the time. And and now we had
[4:08]
the f festival for the last two years.
[4:11]
All the money raised go to the nonprofit
[4:14]
to the town [clears throat]
[4:15]
and and I'm going to give you an idea of
[4:17]
what we did for the town over the years.
[4:20]
We did a lot of things for the town of
[4:22]
Sto. We bought a fax machine to for the
[4:25]
town hall years ago, a hearing m machine
[4:28]
for the school years ago. Chainsaw the
[4:30]
fire department. Um we bought a money to
[4:35]
a boat and motor for the police
[4:36]
department. This is all the fun we
[4:38]
[clears throat] did with money that we
[4:39]
made raising max everything on the land.
[4:43]
And um and then um let me see
[4:47]
[clears throat] also um we provided um
[4:51]
labor for the for the town store for the
[4:54]
uh laboring material for town beach. Um
[4:58]
let me see another thing. Um, oh also
[5:01]
when and this is long time it's late 60s
[5:05]
officer fail got shot when the purity market was in stow in
[5:11]
late 60s and the lions club paid their
[5:14]
light bill they call the light and power
[5:16]
said we paid the light bill for two
[5:18]
years plus we contributed money money to them too you know this is um and right and it's right now
[5:27]
today Then today it's not easy to raise
[5:30]
money to contribute money. It's hard to
[5:33]
raise the money and right now also we
[5:35]
got two projects that we're doing in
[5:37]
town here. One is the town common sign.
[5:39]
I don't know if you know town common
[5:41]
sign come says when they have the town
[5:43]
elections and so forth
[5:45]
that was a disaster. It was all falling
[5:47]
apart. The club got together and we have
[5:49]
members that are working on that right
[5:51]
now. It's ready to be ready to go.
[5:54]
>> Yep. And also the trolley station. I
[5:56]
live I live in Hudson. right now. And I
[5:59]
came down one day and I'm sitting in the
[6:00]
light and I go, "Oh my god, I can't
[6:03]
believe that trolley station. It's a
[6:04]
disaster. It's it's a landmark, you
[6:07]
know, and the town's not doing nothing
[6:08]
with it." So we said to the club, "Look
[6:11]
into it." So right now, Philip been
[6:12]
looking into it, see what we can do to
[6:14]
be rever,
[6:21]
you know, it's it's hard to raise money
[6:24]
for the town. That's it. Thank you very
[6:26]
much.
[6:27]
Sorry.
[6:28]
>> Yeah. Thanks. Thank you.
[6:32]
>> Thank you guys. Uh questions, issues to
[6:36]
be raised with the applicant.
[6:39]
Um
[6:47]
any questions or comments from town
[6:50]
staff?
[6:51]
Just since the thing was submitted, um,
[6:55]
you say there was like a food truck
[6:58]
festival, a yard sale, in the fall,
[7:01]
there was a spring yard sale, there were
[7:04]
spring and fall flea markets. When those
[7:07]
events were not occurring, how was the
[7:09]
land being used?
[7:11]
>> How was the land being used?
[7:13]
>> Yes. Was it
[7:15]
>> uh lots of people would come on with
[7:17]
their dogs. It was used as a common
[7:20]
area. trucks parked there all the time
[7:22]
and go across the street to the people
[7:25]
go fishing. We that that land is open to
[7:28]
the public.
[7:31]
>> You decided a long time ago, right,
[7:33]
Arie, that you weren't going to prohibit
[7:37]
people from using the land even though
[7:38]
we own it.
[7:39]
>> It's public use.
[7:40]
>> Public use. We are fully insured if
[7:44]
something, god forbid, should happen to
[7:47]
somebody, you know, using the land.
[7:49]
There's been weddings on that land.
[7:52]
>> Yeah. And there there are lots of
[7:55]
picnics that people have because it's a
[7:58]
it's like a park.
[8:00]
>> Yeah.
[8:00]
>> It was a park before we had any parks in
[8:02]
town. It was the park. There was no Hail
[8:05]
School or there was Hail School back
[8:07]
then, but that was about it. Right.
[8:09]
That's right. There was no there was no
[8:11]
snow field.
[8:13]
That was the park. So, it's pretty much
[8:16]
continuous use as needed.
[8:20]
>> And I guess the reason I bring this up
[8:22]
for for the board to consider is
[8:25]
it sounds like
[8:28]
there's been for instance the food truck
[8:30]
festival was a temporary event and when
[8:33]
that event was not occurring,
[8:36]
the land for the majority of the rest of
[8:38]
the time was not being used in a similar
[8:41]
way. So I wouldn't I guess the board
[8:46]
would need to consider
[8:49]
is a food truck festival
[8:52]
the use of the site because that would
[8:56]
be what the appeal and the variance
[8:58]
would be for in the special permit under
[9:01]
39.
[9:03]
So if
[9:05]
an event happens, does that change the
[9:07]
land use or does that remain?
[9:11]
>> Right. But just to be clear, whenever
[9:12]
you guys had food truck festivals, um
[9:15]
that was subject to a special event
[9:17]
permit [clears throat] that select when
[9:20]
>> required. Special events are only
[9:23]
prevents
[9:25]
aren't going back 65 years.
[9:27]
>> Right. [clears throat] I think the point
[9:29]
we're making is that it's never been
[9:30]
used as residential. Yeah, it's
[9:33]
continual nonconforming use for um for
[9:39]
>> Yeah,
[9:41]
I'd open up to the board for your
[9:42]
consideration. I I I don't think it's
[9:44]
about whether or not it's being used for
[9:46]
a non-residential use. I think it's it's more specific to that. I think it's
[9:51]
more whether or not the actual use has
[9:55]
been continuing as opposed to well it's
[9:57]
everything but a house for example or
[9:59]
anything other than than residential. Uh
[10:02]
and so the tricky thing here is the fact
[10:04]
that we've got even if you were to I get
[10:08]
the argument saying well it's not it's
[10:10]
been non-residential use if you sort of
[10:12]
string all the different uses together.
[10:15]
Um, but in terms of, you know,
[10:20]
if you look at, for example, the
[10:22]
pre-existing non-conforming uses that we
[10:24]
see here, like those are people who have
[10:27]
had something on their property being
[10:29]
used the exact same way for the last 15
[10:31]
years. Um, as opposed to
[10:37]
» Go ahead.
[10:38]
>> Stowers is an example. Um, it has been a
[10:41]
golf course since 1926.
[10:44]
Um, and that was before the town adopted
[10:47]
zoning and it's been used that way
[10:50]
before. And
[10:53]
because of that, it's considered
[10:54]
pre-existing non-conforming use because
[10:57]
it's maintained operating golf course
[11:00]
for at the this is their 100th
[11:03]
anniversary,
[11:05]
>> even though all that land is tech
[11:07]
>> and all of that land is within the
[11:09]
presidential district.
[11:11]
That's just point
[11:14]
um but but if I get your point with
[11:19]
the argument
[11:20]
>> I have one quick question um just
[11:23]
[clears throat] on the historical part
[11:24]
on maintenance kind of maintaining the
[11:27]
land um it always looks very maintained
[11:29]
is that the typical
[11:32]
>> that's that's always been the typical um
[11:36]
in past years we've hired people to uh
[11:40]
cut the lawn
[11:41]
and it's well maintained
[11:44]
uh this year.
[11:45]
>> So if I if I can subject
[11:49]
>> um the Toronto
[11:52]
DN
[11:54]
farms always cut our field because back
[11:58]
years and years ago
[12:01]
>> we had a real snow snowstorm
[12:04]
>> we um they almost lost the greenhouse.
[12:07]
If it wasn't for the Lions Club, they
[12:09]
would have lost every greenhouse. And we
[12:11]
went down clean the green houses off.
[12:13]
And ever since then, they just went down
[12:15]
cut that field every single year. Every
[12:18]
single year they cut that bill.
[12:21]
It's unbelievable what they did for us.
[12:23]
>> I think they they only take a few bucks
[12:25]
for diesel.
[12:27]
>> Gas. They appreciated our contributions
[12:30]
to the town and they and they um
[12:34]
respected us and and in turn our fields
[12:39]
for decades. Now we've taken on cutting
[12:41]
in ourselves. [snorts] Well, this year
[12:44]
in part of the agreement that we have
[12:47]
with the food truck vendor that's there,
[12:50]
he's the one who's cutting the grass for
[12:53]
us in addition to giving us $400 a
[12:56]
month. cuts the grass as part of his
[12:59]
agreement and he's not charging us for
[13:02]
the gasoline.
[13:05]
I think he's done a pretty good job the
[13:07]
ship.
[13:08]
So that's another benefit that we get
[13:10]
from having that truck there and the
[13:13]
town gets I should say because it's open
[13:15]
to the public. [clears throat] And
[13:16]
recently we got a request from the
[13:19]
constructions company to store their
[13:21]
equipment and goods and consistent to
[13:26]
the Lion's Way. We granted that to the
[13:29]
best of the town, right? And then we
[13:32]
submitted the proper paperwork to the
[13:34]
town uh signed agreement with the
[13:37]
contractor that we allowed use of our
[13:42]
land for the contractor to park his
[13:44]
vehicles and also
[13:47]
>> dump stone pipes.
[13:48]
>> Stone pipes things that they would use
[13:51]
for public body there.
[13:53]
>> Yep.
[13:54]
>> We could have rejected that.
[13:57]
So,
[13:59]
we plan to continue to maintain that
[14:02]
lawn that's spicy in
[14:08]
I'll just open it up. I know there's
[14:10]
nobody else here in the room uh other
[14:12]
than represent the applicant, but I'll
[14:15]
kind of reopen for public comment to the
[14:17]
extent that there's anyone on Zoom that
[14:19]
would like to make a public comment or
[14:21]
question. Um, please sort of virtually
[14:24]
raise your hand. Michael will unmute
[14:25]
you. Um, just please state your name,
[14:28]
your address.
[14:30]
>> They can unmute themselves.
[14:32]
I don't have that.
[14:34]
>> They have that ability right now. So, if
[14:37]
you're having trouble, you can unmute
[14:38]
yourself. Just say, "Hey,
[14:43]
» there's Dave."
[14:45]
>> Yeah.
[14:47]
Hello. Uh, this is David Gray. I'm also
[14:49]
a member of the Lions Club and I just
[14:52]
wanted to um concur with the things that
[14:55]
were said there that uh there is a long
[14:58]
uh long-standing
[15:01]
use of that in non what I would consider
[15:04]
nonconforming
[15:06]
and the requirement for
[15:09]
special events is really a recent thing.
[15:12]
I mean, that's only since the recent
[15:14]
administration has come in and things
[15:16]
were held there long before that ever
[15:18]
existed.
[15:21]
>> Thank you.
[15:22]
Mr. Mayor. Oh, just for the
[15:24]
record, what's your address?
[15:26]
>> I'm sorry. I'm at [clears throat] 34
[15:28]
Meeting House Lane.
[15:30]
>> Excellent. Thank you.
[15:36]
» All right. Any other uh questions or um
[15:40]
piece of information that we're looking
[15:42]
for from the applicant
[15:55]
[clears throat]
[16:01]
is now closed. we can no longer take
[16:03]
information from the applicant nor can
[16:05]
we take any public comments
[16:08]
um either in person or online or
[16:11]
otherwise virtually. Um otherwise I'll
[16:14]
um open it up to the floor for any
[16:16]
discussion.
[16:18]
>> Um [clears throat]
[16:19]
so just to make sure I can now discuss
[16:23]
what I'm thinking, feeling, what I'd
[16:25]
like to do. Correct.
[16:26]
>> Yes. Okay.
[16:27]
>> Yes. That
[16:27]
>> just because this is my f first time the
[16:29]
CBA wanted just to make sure.
[16:31]
>> Yeah. You know that that being said like
[16:33]
any any kind of um any decision that you
[16:37]
have doesn't really count until you
[16:38]
actually
[16:39]
>> correct. This is just my my personal
[16:40]
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This is to be a free
[16:42]
flowing discussion.
[16:43]
>> Yep. So I've been doing a lot of
[16:44]
thinking about this over the past few
[16:46]
weeks. um and you know read all the
[16:50]
information that you know we've been
[16:52]
given and from what I can tell and what
[16:55]
I've read is while we have not provided
[16:59]
or given a use variance I haven't seen
[17:02]
anything that says we cannot or that
[17:04]
it's illegal if we did so I'm going on
[17:07]
those two those two premises um I think
[17:10]
we're in a very unique situation here um
[17:14]
the thing that struck me is there was no
[17:16]
letter complaints. This all came about
[17:19]
because of a comment in the staff
[17:22]
meeting. Had that meeting ever taken
[17:24]
place, we don't know what would have
[17:26]
happened. So, no resident complaint. The
[17:28]
only correspondence I saw from the
[17:30]
police was for the large truck festival,
[17:33]
which I can understand, but not to date
[17:35]
with the current
[17:37]
um
[17:39]
so unaware of any of Butters. I don't to
[17:42]
date I don't think any of Butters have
[17:44]
um complained the um
[17:49]
it is a yes it is a residential
[17:52]
recreation um conservation
[17:55]
zoning but as one of the Lion members
[17:58]
mentioned they're surrounded by
[17:59]
commercial they're surrounded by
[18:01]
business um there's one I think it's
[18:04]
only one really house resident at the
[18:07]
complete other end of the property where
[18:09]
the food truck is
[18:12]
it's the property is owned by a
[18:14]
Stowbased nonprofit. And yes, they don't
[18:17]
meet the strict
[18:19]
definition of a nonprofit according to
[18:22]
the state,
[18:24]
but they're a nonprofit that does a lot
[18:26]
of good. Our town is ready to explode.
[18:28]
We've got masters ready to open in
[18:30]
September, and we are not ready with
[18:32]
services. Drove by last week. The a lot
[18:36]
of the construction folks were having
[18:37]
lunch. I thought it was a wonderful
[18:39]
thing.
[18:40]
I understand that it's not a continuous
[18:43]
use. I understand that they don't meet
[18:47]
the state's definition of nonprofit.
[18:50]
But what I would like to see is that we
[18:53]
grant a temporary use variance until the
[18:56]
end of November with very for this
[18:59]
specific parcel with this specific
[19:01]
owner. That's it. one truck must follow
[19:06]
all the rules and regulations of the
[19:07]
board of health and any other building
[19:10]
commission or whatever that the rules
[19:11]
must be followed. To me, what this does
[19:14]
is it gives the applicant a chance to
[19:16]
decide do they really want to do it. It
[19:18]
gives the town the boards an opportunity
[19:20]
[clears throat] to see does this really
[19:22]
work? And at the end of that time frame,
[19:25]
the applicant to decide to come back and
[19:28]
ask for be it an extension or another or
[19:31]
find some other means. But I'm not in
[19:34]
favor of just saying no.
[19:39]
» Just to respond to one of your quick
[19:41]
things, I did read the reason why we
[19:44]
cannot grant a use variance at our last
[19:46]
meeting and that was from Valerie. Um,
[19:50]
and do you want me to pull it back up?
[19:52]
>> Yes, because I read it, but I didn't get
[19:55]
the feeling it would be, and I'll use
[19:58]
the term illegal if we did. It might not
[20:01]
be it might be frowned upon, but if it's
[20:05]
not allowed in the zoning, it's not
[20:08]
allowed for us to do. I don't think
[20:11]
>> could I actually because I actually have
[20:13]
in MGL4A section 10 it says except where
[20:17]
local ordinances or bylaws shall
[20:19]
expressly permit variances or use no
[20:22]
variance may be authorized may authorize
[20:25]
the use or activity not otherwise
[20:27]
permitted in the district in which the
[20:29]
land or structure is located. Um and
[20:33]
then it basically unless [laughter] it
[20:34]
was before 1976. So basically,
[20:39]
state law says you can't do it. I I
[20:41]
looked through our bylaws. I didn't see
[20:42]
anywhere where it allows us to do a use
[20:44]
variance. So it is actually illegal.
[20:47]
>> You need to follow the rules.
[20:52]
» Okay. I guess the way I'm looking at
[20:53]
this is unfortunately
[20:56]
>> and because they don't meet the state's
[20:59]
full definition of nonprofit. Well,
[21:02]
>> and why is that?
[21:03]
>> Well, no, just to clarify, no, no,
[21:05]
>> it's it's not that they are nonprofit.
[21:08]
>> They're nonprofit, which is correct is a
[21:10]
tax,
[21:11]
>> but if they were this other thing to be
[21:13]
exempt,
[21:14]
>> the
[21:15]
minute
[21:16]
>> the dobermen,
[21:19]
>> yeah, usually that's more that's if it's
[21:22]
a religious based entity or education,
[21:25]
>> childare, a few other things, right?
[21:27]
Which they do not which they do not
[21:28]
need.
[21:28]
>> Yeah. Yeah. Unfortunately the you know
[21:31]
as we're looking at this as I was
[21:32]
looking so I was I was trying to figure
[21:34]
out work but you know the the building
[21:37]
inspector made the right decision. I
[21:40]
mean he he followed the bylaws and the
[21:42]
law so he made the decision that he had
[21:44]
to make. We're not allowed to do a
[21:47]
special permit because we're not allowed
[21:49]
to do a special permit for mobile
[21:50]
trucks. is not allowed in. It's not one
[21:54]
of the allowable exceptions in resident
[21:56]
and we can't do a var various because
[21:59]
it's illegal.
[22:01]
So, we don't have a choice. [laughter]
[22:04]
>> I feel like I'm on the side of it's been
[22:06]
non-conforming
[22:07]
and it like I don't see the change.
[22:10]
>> Well, I'm sorry. Go ahead.
[22:15]
>> Yeah, it's got to be the same use. I mean, the
[22:19]
classic example is I run a restaurant
[22:22]
and I mean, the golf course is honestly
[22:24]
actually the best example, you know, of
[22:26]
all. It's the um we're running a golf
[22:28]
course. All of a sudden, Stow's like
[22:30]
it's residential. They're going, "Okay,
[22:32]
but then they can keep doing it as as a as a golf course." Now, they can
[22:36]
come in and make tweaks to it as a golf
[22:38]
course, but if they showed up and said,
[22:40]
"Well, we want to convert it to,
[22:43]
>> I don't know, like
[22:46]
a laser. we're going to deem as laser
[22:48]
tag because it's all recreational.
[22:51]
We would again this is hypothetical we
[22:53]
would likely say no because we're like
[22:54]
no your pre-existing continuing
[22:56]
non-conforming use was as a golf course.
[22:59]
Um so like the classic example you see a
[23:01]
lot of times especially in New England I
[23:03]
think is either like convenience stores
[23:05]
or restaurants and all of a sudden
[23:06]
you're like how the heck did they like
[23:08]
show up in a residential neighborhood?
[23:09]
It's because of the way the zoning was.
[23:11]
they can keep working through there and
[23:13]
make adjustments. Um, and then you
[23:15]
evaluate within the special permit
[23:17]
context within like selling food or a
[23:21]
convenience store or whatever.
[23:22]
>> I guess my question would be what what
[23:25]
were you designating the property as
[23:28]
before and then what did it become that
[23:31]
was the change of use?
[23:33]
>> Um, it was I think it was always
[23:36]
residential.
[23:38]
Um and so it it basically most of the
[23:43]
time the property is un unused or or
[23:46]
casually used I suppose is the way I'm
[23:48]
looking at it. So therefore there is no
[23:50]
continuous use of the property of any
[23:53]
specific activity
[23:55]
>> even though the history is not
[23:56]
residential use.
[23:58]
>> Well it's no residential it's not the
[24:01]
fact that someone has a house there.
[24:02]
It's it within this it's just it's
[24:05]
within the circle
[24:07]
>> you know. But I mean the function
[24:08]
[clears throat]
[24:10]
>> clarification zoning does not equal land
[24:12]
use.
[24:13]
>> Zoning doesn't what?
[24:14]
>> Does not equal land use.
[24:16]
>> Equal land use.
[24:17]
>> Yeah. So you basically zoning says what
[24:19]
we want to allow. Land use is how it's
[24:21]
being used. So it's been zoned
[24:23]
residential and the intent of the zoning
[24:26]
was that that would be used
[24:27]
residentially.
[24:29]
But any grandfather is in existence. So
[24:32]
you have to look at what exists in order
[24:34]
to grandfather.
[24:36]
Is the board going to consider single
[24:39]
events to be the use of the land?
[24:42]
>> Yeah. See, that's that's my question.
[24:44]
That's my concern is that like it's the
[24:46]
choppiness. I mean, putting aside the
[24:48]
fact that when it comes to food trucks,
[24:50]
the only time there have been food
[24:51]
trucks really in the past have been for
[24:52]
these special events, which I will
[24:54]
acknowledge, you know, right now have
[24:56]
been subject to special event permits,
[24:58]
whether there were times in the past
[24:59]
where, you know, the permits were pulled
[25:02]
or issued because the town didn't care
[25:05]
or whatever the administration was. Um,
[25:08]
you know, it's not like they've been
[25:10]
there on a continuing basis. there's and
[25:12]
there's been various other things and
[25:14]
then that we search the time where
[25:15]
there's nothing you know what I mean um
[25:18]
so I I that's the that's the difficulty
[25:20]
that that I have you know I I
[25:22]
acknowledge the fact that it has been
[25:25]
there's a continuing nonuse of it in
[25:29]
that uh non-residential use because no
[25:32]
one's going to be living there um but
[25:34]
it's it's more tied to the use of it if
[25:37]
that makes sort of sense like I can't I
[25:40]
you know I can't speak to I think for me
[25:43]
it's the same owner. It's not like they
[25:46]
dissolved any company for the use that
[25:49]
they're doing. Um
[25:53]
is where I kind of get it. It didn't
[25:57]
>> Well, I guess the question is
[26:00]
what what do you propose we do that's
[26:03]
legal?
[26:05]
[snorts]
[26:06]
>> That's a good question. Um, and I
[26:10]
because it does feel like it's at the feels like things maybe weren't done
[26:14]
as official prior and then now it's like
[26:17]
we're trying to bring them into official
[26:20]
terms
[26:21]
>> or we have to
[26:22]
>> and that matter.
[26:23]
>> Well, have to, right? Um, but for
[26:26]
instance, if we grant the food
[26:27]
[clears throat] truck
[26:29]
special permit, in theory they could
[26:31]
come in front of us weekly or daily and
[26:34]
make the request,
[26:36]
but we would not want that.
[26:39]
>> That's also illegal.
[26:41]
>> Is it? [laughter]
[26:41]
>> Yes, it is. Because we're not allowed
[26:43]
to.
[26:43]
>> Oh, no.
[26:46]
>> Well, yeah, exactly.
[26:48]
>> So, it would be saving time,
[26:51]
>> right? But we can't do we can't grant
[26:53]
>> Not us. Yes. Yes. But possibly bumping
[26:56]
it
[26:58]
>> back. we we we we can't you know we
[27:02]
don't have power to send it some other
[27:04]
place you know
[27:07]
>> so in the reading of everything and the
[27:11]
evaluation of everything
[27:16]
there's not been any
[27:19]
idea as to
[27:21]
call it a loophole a way we can bend it
[27:25]
a way we can
[27:27]
spin it
[27:28]
>> it's not our job to find that loophole
[27:31]
at this point because they submitted
[27:33]
that application.
[27:35]
>> I think the loophole would be saying
[27:36]
it's non-conforming that it hasn't
[27:38]
changed views.
[27:39]
>> They also did not technically apply for
[27:41]
a non-conforming special permit. They
[27:44]
just applied for a special permit
[27:45]
generally. But there is no such thing as
[27:47]
a
[27:49]
my understanding.
[27:51]
>> Non-conforming
[27:53]
section 3.9 [clears throat]
[27:54]
is our non-conforming section under the
[27:56]
bylaw which is about 90% of the
[27:58]
applications we receive.
[28:00]
>> But that's for something changing.
[28:02]
>> That is for an alteration or extension
[28:05]
>> of the pre-existing
[28:06]
>> pre-existing but that's not for
[28:08]
pre-existing.
[28:12]
See, the problem is um when you're
[28:15]
looking at this the um
[28:20]
the first problem is [clears throat]
[28:23]
food truck
[28:25]
um working on that land is not a
[28:27]
continuous thing. If it had been going
[28:28]
on since before the the property was
[28:32]
zoned residential or before food trucks
[28:35]
were specifically not residential. It'd
[28:38]
be one thing, but it but it's it was it
[28:42]
was very occasional. I don't even know
[28:44]
if it was every year.
[28:46]
>> That doesn't mean they couldn't have
[28:47]
come forward and asked. It would be
[28:49]
similar to like shutting down a store
[28:50]
because they
[28:52]
>> they they've come they've come forward
[28:54]
to ask and that's what we're discussing
[28:57]
now is that you know does what they're
[29:00]
asking for meet
[29:03]
the bylaws meet the state laws um and is it something that we actually can do? And my review of all those is is
[29:15]
no. There's nothing in the bylaws that
[29:16]
says we we're allowed to change use or variance use. There's nothing in
[29:25]
um there's nothing in the the bylaws
[29:28]
that allows us to get a special permit
[29:30]
for a food truck.
[29:32]
Um you know the based on that you have
[29:35]
to look at what the the building
[29:36]
inspector did which is the third thing
[29:38]
and based on those two the building
[29:40]
inspector was absolutely correct in his
[29:42]
decision because he had no choice. It's
[29:45]
not like we want to stop them from doing
[29:48]
it in fact we can't allow them to do it.
[29:51]
There's also sorry
[29:52]
>> I was going to say and the use has to
[29:54]
specifically be what the application is
[29:58]
for. In this case, it I think continues
[30:01]
was 10 years, Michael. Is that what it
[30:02]
was?
[30:02]
>> Yeah, that's why I say that.
[30:04]
>> Um, so for 10 years, they would have had
[30:06]
to have some type of food truck there or
[30:09]
just use it.
[30:12]
>> Yeah, they would have had, as I
[30:14]
understand, they would have to have a
[30:16]
food truck there continuously.
[30:18]
>> I mean, you could theoretically will
[30:20]
say,
[30:20]
>> you could probably interpret that
[30:22]
reasonably being like, all right, well,
[30:24]
if they're not there on the weekends,
[30:26]
there was a break between one and the
[30:27]
other. three week break. But at least
[30:29]
someone's like, "Oh, yes, that field,
[30:31]
that's where the food truck is. That's
[30:33]
where that is." [clears throat]
[30:34]
>> Because when I look at the the Lion's
[30:36]
history going back 10 years, um you look
[30:40]
at, you know, 2012 to 2019 spring and
[30:43]
fall flea markets, my
[30:46]
thought would be in those flea markets,
[30:48]
was there some type of food sold? Now,
[30:51]
food trucks have just become a newer
[30:53]
thing, but was it something else? So I
[30:56]
mean I look at
[30:59]
» once a year is once a year continuous I
[31:01]
guess is my question.
[31:02]
>> No I I okay
[31:04]
>> it's not you know what I mean? I mean if
[31:06]
it
[31:07]
>> and I'm not trying to be difficult.
[31:08]
>> No no no no no. These are important
[31:09]
questions to to ask. You know I think it falls into the category of is it
[31:14]
reasonable for the use about like how it
[31:16]
is. Like for example you could say well
[31:18]
there's a restaurant right there but
[31:20]
they're they're not operating you know
[31:22]
two days a week. Well, yes, because
[31:23]
people maybe take the weekends off or
[31:25]
Monday and Tuesday they close or
[31:26]
whatever, but the opera, you know, it's
[31:28]
not deemed like operationally, you know,
[31:31]
closed. Um, and so there's a, for what
[31:34]
it's worth, there's an SJC case, uh,
[31:37]
from the late '7s called Powers, Powers
[31:39]
versus Building Inspectors, where they
[31:40]
talk about, and it was called the Powers
[31:43]
test, and they talk about whether or not
[31:45]
a use will be considered to be a change
[31:47]
from the protected use.
[31:49]
um and it's the resulting use does not
[31:52]
reflect the nature and purpose of the
[31:53]
use existing when the zoning law took
[31:55]
effect which made it non-conforming or
[31:58]
there is a difference in the quality or
[32:01]
character as well as the degree between
[32:03]
the resulting use and the originally
[32:05]
protected use. That factor too like
[32:09]
indicates to me that like it's it's the
[32:11]
specific use. It's not there's got to be
[32:13]
some sort of a change. Did you go from,
[32:15]
you know, uh, you know, selling widgets
[32:19]
to, you know, operating a restaurant?
[32:22]
You could say, oh, they're both
[32:23]
commercial, but there's a there's a
[32:24]
material change between how it's being
[32:26]
used. So, JT, you've been quiet, not not
[32:31]
to cold call. [clears throat]
[32:32]
>> No. Um, I've been listening to
[32:34]
everything. Um, I I've
[32:37]
put an immense amount of into this as
[32:40]
well. you would
[32:41]
>> put an immense amount of thought into
[32:42]
this as well and research. I was looking
[32:45]
for president
[32:48]
someplace
[32:51]
and
[32:52]
not just in the Commonwealth just in
[32:55]
general in other areas.
[32:59]
They pretty much are very consistent
[33:02]
when they say you cannot go outside the
[33:05]
bounds of the bylaws that you are
[33:08]
presented with.
[33:10]
Um
[33:14]
our bylaws the way they're written right
[33:16]
now it's very
[33:18]
difficult
[33:21]
and this is not in any way I am a huge
[33:25]
Lions fan. uh for [snorts] everything
[33:29]
that they've done and I was really
[33:32]
looking to see if there was some sort of
[33:34]
wiggle room [gasps]
[33:36]
from what I've seen and researched.
[33:40]
I I don't think we we're pretty
[33:45]
technically pigeon here. Well, I mean,
[33:47]
part of it is also like the purpose of
[33:49]
what we do sort of here, you know, as
[33:52]
opposed to, you know, would someone want
[33:54]
to hypothetically make an application to the town to resone that land, for
[33:58]
example. Um, you know, or or make, you
[34:01]
know, make other, you know, make other
[34:03]
type of requests. Um, I don't think it
[34:06]
should be the predominant reason, but it
[34:08]
is notable that at least when the town
[34:12]
modified the zoning when they modified
[34:14]
the zoning bylaws to allow food trucks,
[34:16]
was it 24 [clears throat] or 25?
[34:17]
>> 2023
[34:18]
>> 23, excuse me. Um, and there was a
[34:21]
conscious choice to say, "All right,
[34:22]
we'll allow food trucks and they're
[34:23]
going to be there right in the um the
[34:26]
lower business district, right?"
[34:28]
um you know um you know so you know
[34:32]
that's also a pretty recent decision.
[34:34]
One other thing and I appreciate the
[34:36]
fact that this is hyper technical um but
[34:38]
I'm a law aware so assuming uh the um
[34:42]
remember there's three things going on
[34:43]
here. There's a special permit there's a
[34:45]
variance and there's also an appeal of
[34:47]
the building commissioner's decision.
[34:49]
You got 30 days I understand we talked
[34:51]
about this sort of before but you got 30
[34:53]
days to appeal it.
[34:55]
their appeal is outside those 30 days.
[34:57]
It in my opinion it would be somewhat of
[35:01]
an end run around that time period. If
[35:03]
you could miss the time period but then
[35:05]
also still submit an application for
[35:07]
special permanent or variance then at
[35:09]
that point what's the point of the
[35:10]
decision? What's the point of having a
[35:12]
time period to appeal a decision if you
[35:14]
can just submit an application instead?
[35:17]
You know again it's a hyper technical
[35:19]
you know point but I think it's it's
[35:20]
worth making. Um, I understand that uh
[35:23]
Valerie is on the line. Um, Valerie, do
[35:26]
you have anything to add to the
[35:27]
discussion? If you don't, don't worry
[35:28]
about it. I just figured I would I
[35:30]
noticed that you had joined.
[35:34]
» No, I don't. I'm just just listening in
[35:36]
and trying to get caught up in where you
[35:37]
are in the um in the deliberation. Thank
[35:40]
you.
[35:40]
>> Okay, great. Um other thoughts?
[35:50]
I think the easiest concern that we've
[35:52]
got three separate requests. I think the
[35:54]
easiest is to kind of go through them
[35:55]
one by one because we're going to have
[35:57]
to issue three separate decisions and
[35:58]
three separate votes. Sure. Okay. So I
[36:02]
unless there's an objection I believe
[36:04]
the easiest is the appeal of the
[36:06]
administrative the building commission's
[36:08]
decision. Um if we want to take a look
[36:10]
at that or at least let me open the
[36:12]
floor [clears throat] if anyone's got
[36:13]
any thoughts about sort of how to handle
[36:15]
that one.
[36:17]
pass city.
[36:19]
>> Sure. So, there's three there there's three requests which means we
[36:23]
need to make three we have to have three
[36:25]
separate decisions, three separate
[36:26]
votes.
[36:28]
Uh there's a special permit, there's a
[36:29]
variance and there's the building
[36:31]
commissioner's decision which they
[36:33]
appealed.
[36:35]
Um so, um I figured easiest might be to
[36:39]
sort of talk take them one by one.
[36:41]
>> Are we allowed to do the special one?
[36:44]
>> We have to vote on we have to vote on
[36:46]
all three. Okay. So, um but that's why I
[36:48]
was sort of taking the low hanging fruit
[36:50]
working with the appeal to administrator
[36:51]
of the building's decision.
[36:53]
>> I mean, at least from what I am seeing
[36:56]
as I, you know, the building made the
[36:59]
right decision based on the bylaws and
[37:01]
the state law. So, um I think the only
[37:05]
thing we can do is is deny it.
[37:08]
>> I mean, the other thing too is just from
[37:09]
a kind of a basic standpoint, you got 30
[37:12]
days to appeal.
[37:13]
>> That's true.
[37:14]
>> Their appeal was outside 30 days. I I
[37:16]
don't think we've got discretion
[37:18]
um to to to alter that.
[37:32]
The uh the only other comment I would
[37:34]
make about that is I believe you would
[37:36]
actually ask the applicant directly um
[37:40]
if they felt there was any
[37:42]
reason in defense of the appeal. And the
[37:46]
response from the applicant pack was
[37:49]
uh that no that they
[37:53]
didn't feel that the building inspector
[37:56]
commissioner was um incorrect in issuing
[38:01]
the cease and disest
[38:04]
um [clears throat]
[38:04]
>> and they made the comment I think in the
[38:06]
previous hearing that they felt he did
[38:08]
make the right decision. So
[38:11]
>> right
[38:13]
to go along with that.
[38:15]
>> So even if we took it up
[38:19]
>> beyond the 30-day
[38:21]
>> Yeah.
[38:21]
>> that for me weighs pretty heavily.
[38:26]
>> Um
[38:26]
>> I have a question.
[38:28]
>> Um if it was
[38:30]
say like a event and they didn't have a
[38:35]
special event permit,
[38:37]
>> what happens?
[38:40]
Is it the same? Would it be a cease and
[38:43]
desist from
[38:46]
» I'm not quite sure actually who's got
[38:48]
the jurisdiction for that. Not every
[38:50]
event requires a special event permit.
[38:53]
Um
[38:55]
I don't know exactly what the protocol
[38:57]
is. Um it is not a zoning issue. So I I
[39:03]
don't know because it's outside my job.
[39:07]
um it's strictly through the select
[39:08]
board and their design. So we would have
[39:11]
to look at the select board's policy for
[39:13]
that information, but ultimately that's
[39:16]
not part of this case. Just
[39:20]
for your brain around it.
[39:23]
>> Yeah. No, I mean the difficulty is that
[39:25]
like you know if I don't know if you
[39:28]
know one of the churches in town wanted
[39:29]
to you know throw some sort of a special
[39:33]
event that you know based on town policy
[39:34]
would require a special event permit
[39:36]
because of like traffic or police
[39:39]
presence or something along that nature.
[39:41]
You know cease and desist probably
[39:43]
doesn't make a difference because the
[39:45]
event is probably over first of all
[39:46]
that's one um whether or not the town
[39:48]
wanted to take some sort of an action
[39:49]
against them. I don't know even if they
[39:51]
even have the ability to, you know,
[39:53]
issue a fine or, you know,
[39:57]
make some sort of statement afterwards
[39:58]
about whether or not they're allowed to
[39:59]
do stuff in the f. It certainly would
[40:00]
probably be taken into consideration.
[40:02]
They were asked for a special permit in
[40:04]
the future. Like I've definitely seen
[40:05]
that before, but that's usually within
[40:07]
the jurisdiction of the select board.
[40:09]
Um, so it's not really we don't really
[40:11]
handle something.
[40:12]
>> If an event is going on that shouldn't
[40:14]
be though, typically the police are
[40:16]
called in to shut it down,
[40:17]
>> right? Yeah. So at that point in time,
[40:20]
>> right? Um and so and I think there's
[40:23]
actually been food truck situations like
[40:25]
that. Uh I can think of in particular
[40:27]
where I think it was technically within
[40:29]
a a residential zone district and the
[40:31]
police had to come and basically tell
[40:33]
them when to go home. So all the issues
[40:36]
that that arose and that it wasn't
[40:37]
allowed. So
[40:40]
um any other discussion on the the um
[40:46]
the appeal of the building commissioners
[40:47]
decision? Let's just focus on the board
[40:49]
one at a time.
[40:51]
>> Anything else from staff on that?
[40:54]
>> Um, no. The board, some of the members
[40:58]
are familiar, but in order to grant an
[41:00]
appeal, you have to find error of the
[41:02]
building commissioner. So, if there's no
[41:05]
error, then the board cannot grant an
[41:07]
appeal.
[41:09]
>> If there's no error, they cannot grant
[41:11]
I'm just having a hard time hearing.
[41:12]
>> The board cannot grant an appeal if
[41:14]
there's no error from the building
[41:16]
commissioner.
[41:20]
» [clears throat]
[41:26]
» I was I was sensing a [laughter]
[41:27]
comment.
[41:29]
So
[41:30]
>> I I'm just It's that repeating part
[41:34]
essentially. I'm really struggling with
[41:37]
that part [clears throat] of that
[41:38]
existing non-conforming. Um and then
[41:42]
trying to get my brain around because I
[41:44]
I'm seeing
[41:44]
>> it's not an existing non-conforming. is
[41:46]
an occasional nonconformity exist in my
[41:50]
definition existing one is one that's
[41:52]
happening maybe not daily but on such a
[41:55]
regular basis that it's it's it's
[41:58]
normal.
[41:59]
>> Okay. So it's the change in frequenc
[42:02]
it's it's it's the fact that yeah it
[42:04]
it's it's you know it's not something
[42:06]
that they in the past have intended to
[42:09]
do frequently. it's with it's either a
[42:12]
special event or it's part of a special
[42:14]
event that is um permitted whether it's
[42:18]
a special permit or otherwise by the
[42:20]
town group
[42:22]
>> and then if they had that because it
[42:24]
sounds like they've served food they've
[42:26]
had food trucks there sounds like
[42:28]
historically they didn't do special
[42:31]
permits that's a new process so they've
[42:34]
come into kind of bringing that that in
[42:37]
um [laughter]
[42:38]
I guess I feel like we're in that I mean
[42:40]
>> it's not but the thing is that um the
[42:45]
town's requirements for special permit
[42:47]
may be new but that's not really the
[42:49]
factor here. The factor is um is there a
[42:54]
history of continuous use and
[42:56]
[clears throat] however you want to
[42:56]
define continuous use. Um
[43:00]
at least my mind it's more than once or
[43:04]
maybe twice a year.
[43:06]
Um it it it really is an intentional use
[43:10]
of that property for that purpose um on
[43:13]
a regular basis.
[43:15]
>> But I think they were free to use it for
[43:16]
that purpose.
[43:18]
>> They [clears throat] were free to use it
[43:19]
for that purpose. [snorts]
[43:20]
>> No, they weren't. They just they just
[43:23]
they were um
[43:26]
>> story.
[43:26]
>> But even if hypothetically even if they
[43:30]
even if a property owner could use a
[43:32]
property,
[43:34]
you know, for a non-conforming use, the
[43:36]
fact that they didn't like that's the continuing part. It's not
[43:41]
>> I don't think I the fact that they
[43:43]
didn't hold an event to me doesn't mean
[43:46]
they weren't.
[43:47]
>> Then they're not using [clears throat]
[43:48]
it.
[43:48]
>> No, they still are. They're still
[43:50]
maintaining it. They're still there,
[43:52]
>> but they're not using like like having
[43:54]
the land and maintaining it is different
[43:56]
than than what's the use of it, you
[43:58]
know?
[43:58]
>> Well, you know, compare it to say a
[44:00]
store. Um, if you've got a store and the
[44:04]
store is just there and there's no
[44:06]
customers, it's just there. They make no
[44:08]
[clears throat] sales. Um, nobody walks
[44:11]
in the door. Um, but the business is
[44:14]
there, they keep the building, they da
[44:18]
>> I I I I would agree that is a continuing
[44:20]
use.
[44:21]
>> That is a continuing use. That is
[44:23]
>> except if it's a store in a residential
[44:26]
property and it's not used for 10 years
[44:28]
or so, they lose that right to use it as
[44:31]
a
[44:32]
>> money within 10 years.
[44:34]
>> I have an example, Maria, that I think
[44:36]
could help.
[44:38]
>> So, you have a farm, right? If you host
[44:41]
a wedding at your farm, not yours like
[44:44]
the person says, "I want to host a
[44:46]
wedding." Say, "Sure."
[44:48]
>> Does your property Does the use of your
[44:51]
property change from farm to wedding
[44:53]
venue for that one event?
[44:55]
>> I would think so. Yes.
[44:57]
>> For so
[45:00]
>> I would think I needed to come for
[45:02]
occupancy
[45:04]
dynamics
[45:06]
>> for for that purpose. We'll just say put
[45:09]
that off to the side. Is your property
[45:12]
now going to be a wedding venue or after
[45:15]
the the event it's going to continue
[45:17]
back being a farm?
[45:20]
>> Uh,
[45:23]
so one day a year it's a you host a
[45:26]
wedding and the other 364 days you're
[45:30]
farming.
[45:31]
>> So hosting a wedding on a farm is
[45:33]
farming is probably what I would say.
[45:37]
that would be an accessory use to the
[45:39]
farm. It's not the overall land use,
[45:42]
>> but that would still be different than
[45:44]
now because
[45:46]
>> but now for this example for them, they
[45:49]
had a food truck festival which was
[45:52]
we'll just say 5 days a year
[45:54]
>> for easy numbers. And then in the one
[45:57]
that they gave us or the memo that they
[46:00]
gave us, they said 52 weeks a year
[46:04]
going from five events to 52 weeks
[46:11]
is a is a jump from the [clears throat]
[46:14]
proportion of
[46:16]
>> I guess I see it as a
[46:18]
>> it would be a field for a vacant field
[46:21]
for 300 days of 360 days of the year and
[46:24]
then 5 days it as an event.
[46:28]
>> See, I don't see it as a vacant field. I
[46:30]
see it as they have the freedom to do
[46:32]
[clears throat] the events during that
[46:34]
period.
[46:35]
>> True. But they have the freedom to do
[46:37]
many different events which they have
[46:39]
done and because of that and they have
[46:42]
not done
[46:45]
the law typically says what a reasonable
[46:48]
person
[46:50]
would
[46:52]
find
[46:53]
um in a situation
[46:57]
a once a year
[47:00]
food truck festival
[47:03]
would not be deemed as a 365 day use by
[47:08]
a reasonable person.
[47:10]
And that's where the definition
[47:14]
should fall in. They've used it for many
[47:18]
different events
[47:20]
from their horse shows to carnivals
[47:24]
u to flea markets to um flower sales uh
[47:32]
and yard sales.
[47:34]
Um,
[47:37]
I would not deem any of those as
[47:42]
a continuous use because it's not over a
[47:47]
365day period. So, a reasonable person
[47:50]
would not
[47:52]
find it to be that.
[47:55]
Um,
[47:56]
that's what they're asking us to do now.
[48:00]
the food truck. And unfortunately,
[48:03]
>> well, the food truck's mobile.
[48:05]
>> Excuse me.
[48:05]
>> The food truck is mobile. It's not.
[48:08]
>> It is mobile, but it is there the vast
[48:11]
majority of the time,
[48:13]
>> right? Yeah. So, yeah, finding that
[48:15]
continuous,
[48:16]
>> right? And that would be defined as
[48:18]
continuous of the same venue.
[48:24]
and a reasonable person
[48:27]
would then say, "Oh,
[48:30]
that's where that taco food truck is
[48:33]
going to be that I can go to at
[48:36]
lunchtime and have my tacos."
[48:39]
I guess in my brain the way forward and
[48:42]
I don't know what the official way would
[48:44]
be but would be so they come about it
[48:47]
the correct direction and applied for a
[48:51]
special permit or an event permit or
[48:53]
however to the select board
[48:56]
how frequent like when would they have
[48:59]
gotten the answer no
[49:00]
>> yeah that's a question not a
[49:02]
conversation we can have because it's
[49:03]
not on our purview they would have to go
[49:05]
talk to the sl
[49:06]
>> and that's why I get confused of why
[49:08]
we're here person
[49:09]
>> because they came to us. They [laughter]
[49:12]
>> Yeah.
[49:13]
>> Special event permits have nothing to do
[49:16]
with zoning,
[49:17]
>> right?
[49:18]
>> Okay. So, special event permits are for
[49:21]
those one-off events that typically do
[49:24]
not happen at a site but have some
[49:27]
impact to a private or a public road or
[49:33]
public property.
[49:35]
So, we are not stopping them from having
[49:37]
events. They can have they could do a
[49:40]
food truck festival in the fall. They
[49:42]
could do a flower sale in spring. They
[49:44]
could do a horse show in the summer.
[49:46]
They can do all of those things still,
[49:48]
but they would need to do it as a
[49:49]
special event basis only.
[49:52]
[laughter] If they're having something
[49:53]
there every day, that's no longer
[49:57]
considered a special event. If it's
[49:59]
there most days of the year, [snorts]
[50:01]
that's not a special event. That's a
[50:03]
continued use. And it has to be that one
[50:06]
specific use. Not for the next six
[50:10]
months, every other day there's going to
[50:12]
be something on that property. It has to
[50:14]
be this is going to be on the property
[50:16]
for the next six months.
[50:22]
Again, like they talk [clears throat]
[50:24]
about whether there's a difference in
[50:25]
the quality or the character as well as
[50:27]
the degree of the press use. So I think
[50:30]
you know quality and character talks
[50:32]
about like the type that's being done.
[50:35]
It'd be an interesting question if it
[50:37]
all at all involves food sales for
[50:39]
example then I mean you know it's
[50:40]
potentially open to interpretation but I
[50:42]
think [clears throat]
[50:44]
I think it's a little more difficult
[50:45]
here.
[50:48]
So the fact that they have used it
[50:52]
some kind of use
[50:55]
for the past
[50:58]
at least 10 years doesn't matter because
[51:01]
it hasn't been a food truck for 10
[51:02]
years.
[51:04]
The PR yes the principal use
[51:09]
>> has not been for hosting food truck but
[51:11]
there's been these temporary events for
[51:14]
food truck use
[51:16]
>> the farm sorry and is that primary use
[51:19]
again so they they would have had deemed
[51:21]
the primary use of that property was to
[51:24]
have some number of food trucks for some
[51:26]
number of days a year
[51:29]
that's the only way
[51:31]
or the only that would make the
[51:34]
definition of continuous this use it
[51:37]
would be okay but since it hasn't been
[51:43]
» well actually
[51:45]
>> probably not that's that's
[51:49]
» I mean because it's still we still can't
[51:52]
change the the legal use of the property
[51:55]
and we still can't give them a special
[51:57]
permit
[51:58]
>> right
[51:58]
>> so whether it's whether it was
[52:00]
continuously used or not we'd still be
[52:02]
in the same spot
[52:05]
And the continuous use is defined by our
[52:09]
bylaw or the state definition.
[52:12]
>> It's both.
[52:13]
>> Both.
[52:14]
>> Yeah.
[52:16]
>> Reflects the use.
[52:17]
>> I'm sorry.
[52:18]
>> Our bylaw reflects the state law
[52:21]
>> 48 section six.
[52:22]
>> I think I believe it's six or five or
[52:25]
six.
[52:29]
» [clears throat]
[52:31]
» I know there's a lot of legal things
[52:33]
around the mobile dynamic there
[52:36]
with
[52:39]
which is why the food truck is such a
[52:43]
[laughter]
[52:45]
So another example of something that
[52:48]
would be like a mobile use would be um
[52:50]
the truck stop
[52:53]
where people can park their trucks
[52:56]
overnight, sleep and then move on in the
[52:59]
morning. Those vehicles are constantly
[53:01]
are coming in and out, stopping,
[53:05]
but you would still deem the use of that
[53:06]
property as a truck stop even if there's
[53:08]
not always a truck there. Correct.
[53:13]
So, [clears throat]
[53:16]
so if it has to be a spec um my head's
[53:20]
getting wrapped and unwrapped. So, if it
[53:23]
has to be a very specific use, aka a
[53:26]
food truck,
[53:28]
and if food trucks haven't been around
[53:30]
for 10 years, let's say they've only
[53:33]
been around for 5 years,
[53:35]
how can it now be continuous for 10
[53:38]
years? The So, how does that work?
[53:42]
>> I'll let Valerie, the planning director,
[53:45]
speak on this. She has her hand raised.
[53:51]
» Yeah. So, um, sorry, I'm having some bad
[53:54]
internet over here. So, if you can't
[53:55]
hear me, I apologize. Um, but one thing
[53:59]
I did want to add is, so if you're
[54:01]
living, you're living in a residential
[54:03]
neighborhood and if your neighbor
[54:06]
decides to have a food truck once a
[54:09]
season,
[54:11]
that is not a way to like to back your
[54:14]
way into a zoning exemption, right? You
[54:18]
can't you can't create a new use for
[54:21]
yourself um simply because you choose to
[54:25]
do it a few times a year or once a year,
[54:29]
right? So, if your neighbor had a food
[54:31]
truck for a wedding, that doesn't mean
[54:33]
that they are now a legal food truck
[54:36]
location.
[54:38]
And the continuous use is also related
[54:41]
to when our zoning was enacted,
[54:46]
right? I I think Michael I put that in
[54:49]
the memo as well.
[54:54]
I don't know if that's helpful at all or
[54:57]
if you can hear me. [snorts]
[54:59]
>> We can hear.
[55:01]
>> All right.
[55:01]
>> I will say for what it's worth, I would
[55:05]
[clears throat]
[55:06]
I think there is a reasonable
[55:07]
interpretation where it doesn't
[55:10]
necessarily have to be as specific as a
[55:12]
food truck. I could imagine a world that
[55:14]
way, but it would have to One could
[55:17]
argue it would have to fall under, I
[55:19]
don't know, sale of food or something
[55:22]
like that, you know. Um, you could say,
[55:24]
well, that industry didn't exist back
[55:26]
then. And [clears throat] I get that.
[55:27]
Um,
[55:29]
but, um, you know, switching from,
[55:33]
you know, landscaping to, you know, sale
[55:37]
widgets, like, you know, just even a
[55:39]
widget didn't exist two years ago, like
[55:42]
I don't think that would apply.
[55:43]
[laughter]
[55:44]
And the other dilemma
[55:52]
Oh, I know what it is. The other dilemma
[55:54]
is even if it was the same use, it
[55:58]
sounds like using it only a handful of
[56:00]
days a year does not constitute
[56:02]
continuous. That's the other dilemma.
[56:05]
>> Yeah. So while [clears throat] they
[56:07]
could have shown a food truck event for
[56:09]
the past 12 years, if it was if it was a
[56:11]
oneoff or a two off, not necessarily
[56:15]
considered continuous use.
[56:18]
At least that's the position I would
[56:21]
that [clears throat] I certainly would
[56:21]
take.
[56:36]
All right. Any other discussion? Let's
[56:38]
just focus on like I said we'll do this
[56:40]
one at a time or on the
[56:43]
building decision
[56:46]
>> on the which one
[56:46]
>> the building decision desist.
[56:49]
>> Okay. [laughter]
[56:50]
Um,
[56:52]
anything else?
[56:55]
[laughter]
[56:59]
» Decisions or hold off or on an outcome.
[57:04]
No.
[57:05]
>> Um, well, I'll entertain a motion if
[57:08]
anyone has one
[57:11]
or we can look at a draft decision and
[57:15]
entertain a motion after we take a look
[57:17]
at that.
[57:19]
What do I do?
[57:22]
I
[57:22]
>> have to make a motion. People really
[57:24]
want to look at the decision first.
[57:27]
>> As a reminder, by the way, it's always a
[57:28]
two-step process. You vote on you you
[57:31]
vote on what to do and then you actually
[57:32]
vote on the actual.
[57:34]
>> I make a motion that we deny the appeal
[57:37]
of the building inspector's decision.
[57:40]
>> Second.
[57:41]
>> We have a motion, a second. Any further
[57:44]
discussion?
[57:46]
Hearing none. All in favor of tonight
[57:48]
appeal
[57:54]
draft
[57:59]
and for what it's worth and [laughter]
[58:02]
not I don't mean to like don't feel like
[58:04]
you know even though many of our
[58:06]
decisions not you know unanimous there's
[58:08]
actually no obligation to do so disagree
[58:15]
um [clears throat]
[58:22]
draft
[58:24]
decision that's been um
[58:27]
passed down on just this issue. Um so
[58:32]
I'll open the floor for any comments or
[58:36]
edits.
[58:48]
This is so
[58:50]
That's what I got.
[58:55]
[laughter]
[59:05]
» [laughter]
[59:22]
» Top page three, section five. [laughter]
[59:26]
Letter states that the property is
[59:27]
located with the residential district.
[59:36]
» [laughter]
[1:00:02]
» seven. Uh should that it says um last
[1:00:07]
shouldn't that say uh since we're
[1:00:09]
talking residential should that say
[1:00:10]
residential district instead of
[1:00:12]
recreation
[1:00:15]
[laughter] at the end of it?
[1:00:16]
[clears throat]
[1:00:17]
Um yes should be rescue.
[1:00:41]
[laughter]
[1:00:52]
» [snorts]
[1:01:01]
[clears throat]
[1:01:28]
» from history. Number 10, special event
[1:01:31]
permits law for local food vendors to
[1:01:33]
offer the site on a temporary basis.
[1:01:59]
» [laughter]
[1:02:03]
» I would disagree with number 11.
[1:02:07]
[laughter]
[1:02:09]
I feel that they provided information
[1:02:12]
supporting that there was
[1:02:14]
>> no outside special events
[1:02:17]
>> right with this historical survey of
[1:02:19]
food. Oh, outside of special events
[1:02:22]
record. [laughter]
[1:02:28]
Oh, this historical
[1:02:31]
that the special events
[1:02:34]
went on without special event permits.
[1:02:37]
I just the word permit just say stuff.
[1:02:45]
[laughter]
[1:02:51]
I also don't agree with the property
[1:02:52]
remains vacant.
[1:03:02]
[laughter]
[1:03:09]
» [laughter]
[1:03:15]
» We have to be a little bit more specific
[1:03:17]
about Glenn cuz he was here one.
[1:03:21]
>> Yes. I just note that he was I'll modify
[1:03:24]
that as he was present during the first
[1:03:25]
public hearing session but was not
[1:03:27]
present um at the last two
[1:03:34]
[laughter]
[1:03:49]
[clears throat]
[1:03:50]
>> Oh it Actually, yes.
[1:03:52]
>> Sorry.
[1:03:52]
>> We'll have to redo that.
[1:03:54]
>> That's my apologies
[1:03:57]
because it's up.
[1:03:58]
>> Yes.
[1:04:00]
>> That is my
[1:04:06]
[laughter]
[1:04:07]
need to be to approve and adopt. You
[1:04:09]
would also need to be a roll call.
[1:04:18]
» [laughter]
[1:04:46]
>> Heat. Heat.
[1:04:55]
[laughter]
[1:05:20]
» [clears throat]
[1:05:23]
» and just so
[1:05:26]
not denying the appeal
[1:05:28]
would essentially be saying that
[1:05:32]
[clears throat]
[1:05:32]
it was my right to have a food truck
[1:05:35]
permanently parked there.
[1:05:39]
All right.
[1:05:41]
Go ahead.
[1:05:43]
Um
[1:05:47]
basically what it's saying is that the
[1:05:49]
build building was long in the way
[1:05:51]
enforce the bylaw.
[1:05:53]
So that not necessarily saying that it
[1:05:56]
was by right but that they they did well
[1:05:59]
that yeah but by in the bylaw that that
[1:06:02]
he read the bylaw and the bylaw does say
[1:06:04]
they inhald. It's not necessarily saying
[1:06:07]
that they earn the right to it by by by
[1:06:11]
any means.
[1:06:12]
>> The other side of it could be
[1:06:15]
could that would be
[1:06:17]
>> well if we if we basically we would say
[1:06:20]
that the decision as written by the
[1:06:22]
building inspector had a mistake in it.
[1:06:26]
Something he said was wrong.
[1:06:29]
[laughter]
[1:06:31]
>> Not to be sort of picky about it. You
[1:06:33]
could theoretically say we're going to
[1:06:36]
grant the appeal because the building
[1:06:37]
there was an error in the building
[1:06:38]
commissioner decision that doesn't
[1:06:40]
actually go to the ultimate issue. You
[1:06:43]
know what I mean? Like what happens if I
[1:06:44]
don't know he exhibited bias or he
[1:06:47]
didn't even investigate it or he issued
[1:06:49]
it and actually I can tell you in one
[1:06:52]
instance I remember there was an appeal
[1:06:54]
and we didn't think he actually properly
[1:06:55]
explained it well and we ended up like
[1:06:58]
remanding it back to him and say
[1:06:59]
basically do it again. Um, I know we've
[1:07:02]
done that before. So, you know, the
[1:07:04]
question is just like, was there an
[1:07:05]
error such that we should throw the CC
[1:07:08]
synthesis letter out? You know, it could
[1:07:10]
be a procedural error. It could be, you
[1:07:13]
[clears throat] know, it could be the
[1:07:14]
fact that he misinterpreted the bylaws.
[1:07:16]
So, just for what it's worth, that would
[1:07:18]
be the basis for for um
[1:07:23]
granting the appeal, that there's some
[1:07:25]
error with the decision and therefore it
[1:07:27]
should be tossed. which does not mean
[1:07:29]
that that would automatically grant them
[1:07:31]
the right to have a food truck there. It
[1:07:33]
just grants them the right to have no
[1:07:36]
sees.
[1:07:37]
>> Yeah, basically. And then they still
[1:07:39]
have to get they still have to go
[1:07:41]
forward and get something to allow them
[1:07:43]
to do it
[1:07:44]
>> or or point to something. The violence
[1:07:46]
says we can do it by right.
[1:07:47]
>> Exactly. Yeah.
[1:07:50]
[clears throat]
[1:07:50]
>> It does. I'm trying to
[1:07:55]
because you know he gave the cease and
[1:07:57]
desist letter but he also let it
[1:08:00]
continue in the meantime.
[1:08:07]
» Okay. Go ahead. I know what you say.
[1:08:10]
>> So there are times when if there is an
[1:08:13]
active appeal there will be no action
[1:08:15]
taken by the building commissioner until
[1:08:16]
the board renders a decision.
[1:08:19]
Is that the point?
[1:08:22]
So it was first to cease and desist and
[1:08:25]
then when they appealed that
[1:08:28]
>> he said that you don't need to that the
[1:08:30]
food truck needed to go.
[1:08:32]
>> So yeah, so he's told them the food
[1:08:35]
truck needs to go. Then the appeal
[1:08:37]
period for that decision began. At the
[1:08:41]
end of the appeal period, he can begin
[1:08:44]
issuing fines if no action is taken.
[1:08:51]
it sometimes it generally gets paused if
[1:08:56]
something is brought to the ZA because
[1:08:58]
asking for fines every day for something
[1:09:01]
where he could have been wrong is not
[1:09:04]
the most appropriate.
[1:09:07]
So it's operating now because he's not
[1:09:10]
going to enforce the decision until this
[1:09:12]
board renders decision.
[1:09:15]
Once this board does render a decision,
[1:09:17]
whatever it is, he'll have to enforce
[1:09:19]
that.
[1:09:22]
>> Well, actually, technically, he could
[1:09:23]
wait because they could appeal.
[1:09:26]
>> They could. Yes,
[1:09:27]
>> they could take a They could take
[1:09:29]
another appeal if they wanted to to for
[1:09:31]
example
[1:09:33]
cause it again.
[1:09:38]
» Does that make sense?
[1:09:40]
>> Yeah. I'm still still struggling. Yeah,
[1:09:44]
>> that's okay.
[1:09:46]
Um any other um edits,
[1:09:50]
questions, issues? I think that
[1:09:54]
[laughter]
[1:09:55]
um because I messed up procedurally, uh
[1:09:59]
I need a new motion to vote again um on first and not the written decision,
[1:10:08]
the
[1:10:10]
[clears throat] actions you [laughter]
[1:10:11]
take.
[1:10:11]
>> Okay. I make a motion to deny the appeal
[1:10:15]
of the building as specialist decision.
[1:10:18]
>> Okay, we have a motion second. We have a
[1:10:20]
second. Any discussion? All right, we'll
[1:10:23]
take this by call. Uh Deb,
[1:10:25]
>> hi
[1:10:26]
>> JT.
[1:10:27]
>> Hi Maria.
[1:10:28]
>> Hi.
[1:10:31]
>> I'll vote you as well.
[1:10:35]
» Um
[1:10:37]
okay. Unless there's any other edits,
[1:10:40]
um on the written decision, uh I'll make
[1:10:43]
a a motion on that.
[1:10:45]
>> I'll make a motion to to accept the
[1:10:48]
decision as amended.
[1:10:51]
>> Have a motion.
[1:10:52]
>> Second.
[1:10:52]
>> A second. Any discussion or further
[1:10:55]
edits or questions or concerns about the
[1:10:56]
written decision
[1:10:59]
hearing? None. I'll take this also by
[1:11:01]
roll call vote.
[1:11:02]
>> Debingly I
[1:11:04]
>> JT I
[1:11:08]
and the chairman. [snorts] All right. Um
[1:11:13]
so that decision is um [laughter]
[1:11:16]
that decision is done. Um,
[1:11:20]
all right. Moving on to the I think
[1:11:24]
we'll do the special permit next. Okay.
[1:11:27]
Um,
[1:11:28]
>> so with regards to that mentioned
[1:11:30]
planning board, I'm trying to figure
[1:11:33]
what the way forward.
[1:11:37]
Um,
[1:11:43]
[clears throat]
[1:11:46]
» [laughter]
[1:12:02]
» figure out how they can make this
[1:12:05]
or let's see. Yeah.
[1:12:09]
Um
[1:12:12]
she by the plan for
[1:12:16]
[laughter]
[1:12:17]
I mean did have to talk to the plan.
[1:12:19]
>> Yeah.
[1:12:21]
>> That's not something we can get involved
[1:12:23]
>> and I guess I'm trying to to flush out.
[1:12:25]
Exactly. So as we're looking at this
[1:12:29]
so this is this a special permit saying
[1:12:32]
they're not too
[1:12:33]
>> Oh the next one.
[1:12:34]
>> Yes.
[1:12:34]
Yeah. Yeah. So, as part of their
[1:12:36]
application, they requested a special
[1:12:38]
permit under our bylaws. Um, and that's
[1:12:40]
where it's the whole pre-existing
[1:12:42]
non-conforming
[1:12:44]
uh use issue.
[1:12:46]
>> And the
[1:12:49]
and we can or cannot grant special
[1:12:51]
permits. [snorts]
[1:12:52]
>> We could, but we grant special permits
[1:12:54]
all the time. Typically, the special
[1:12:56]
permits we grant involve pre-existing
[1:12:58]
non-conforming structures. um you know
[1:13:01]
where a house was built
[1:13:04]
you know 10 ft from the you know from
[1:13:07]
the setback or 10 ft into the setback
[1:13:09]
you know it's been there for 40 years or
[1:13:11]
whatever it might be and they want to
[1:13:13]
increase it by another two feet and then
[1:13:15]
we evaluate you know how is it within
[1:13:17]
the neighborhood does it
[1:13:21]
with all the factors um but that's how
[1:13:23]
we how we typically do the tens of more
[1:13:25]
structures in the property itself and
[1:13:28]
the reality is is that was it like I
[1:13:30]
can't remember the percentage of
[1:13:32]
pre-existing non-conforming lots we have
[1:13:33]
in the town is every single basage and
[1:13:38]
things like that. So
[1:13:41]
specifically for food trucks, the plan
[1:13:44]
board is the only organization that can
[1:13:46]
issue a special permit but only only in
[1:13:50]
lower village.
[1:13:52]
>> Okay. So, you know, if they had wanted
[1:13:55]
if they wanted to continue forth, they'd
[1:13:57]
have to
[1:13:59]
get a special permit for use in lower
[1:14:01]
village.
[1:14:06]
Yeah. Yeah.
[1:14:09]
We have no rights to it at all. Okay.
[1:14:14]
» Yeah.
[1:14:16]
Um,
[1:14:18]
we can
[1:14:20]
I'm sorry, I'm not trying uh cut things
[1:14:23]
off any there any other discussion
[1:14:25]
comments issues to bring up with respect
[1:14:27]
to the special permit question
[1:14:30]
if you want to take a look at a draft
[1:14:32]
decision as [clears throat] part of the
[1:14:34]
discussion we can definitely do that
[1:14:36]
very helpful Sure
[1:14:38]
[snorts]
[1:14:39]
>> sometimes it's easier to see it in
[1:14:40]
writing rather than conceptual because
[1:14:42]
then you see in writing and realize I
[1:14:43]
don't like the way it's it's written I
[1:14:45]
don't like how it feels whatever it
[1:14:46]
might be
[1:14:54]
» [laughter]
[1:15:48]
» for
[1:15:50]
this.
[1:16:10]
Hey,
[1:16:22]
let's see.
[1:16:25]
>> [clears throat and snorts]
[1:16:46]
» Page three, section three.
[1:16:50]
It says 10 years or more 10 years.
[1:17:05]
» [laughter]
[1:17:24]
» And number nine, [clears throat] it says
[1:17:26]
the applicant say the properties been
[1:17:28]
used special events hosting the food
[1:17:30]
vendors
[1:17:32]
that we can
[1:17:34]
is this document is is on the list
[1:17:38]
it is yes it's 2D
[1:17:43]
I wonder if it might be better just to
[1:17:45]
say yeah say for such include hosting
[1:17:49]
food measures and for the uses set forth
[1:17:53]
in the document referenced in two
[1:18:00]
A little bit more.
[1:18:02]
Thank you.
[1:18:30]
» [laughter]
[1:18:30]
>> 13.
[1:18:32]
Uh, if the use is not pre-existing, not
[1:18:35]
performing. I think if the use is not
[1:18:37]
pre-existing and not performing,
[1:18:40]
true.
[1:18:55]
» [laughter]
[1:19:06]
» So I believe this one that I don't agree
[1:19:09]
with. I just
[1:19:14]
» I believe it would be this one that I
[1:19:15]
don't agree with since I'm seeing it.
[1:19:18]
>> Okay.
[1:19:21]
Not as an extension per se.
[1:19:28]
Is there a particular line that you or
[1:19:31]
point that you don't agree?
[1:19:33]
>> Well, I think I but I mean you haven't
[1:19:35]
talked in specifics, but I think I would
[1:19:36]
lean towards granting a special.
[1:19:39]
>> Okay. Well, in that case, if there's
[1:19:42]
motion to deny, you can always go.
[1:19:48]
[laughter]
[1:19:49]
[clears throat]
[1:20:20]
» [laughter]
[1:20:22]
[clears throat]
[1:20:28]
[laughter]
[1:20:46]
>> Is this roll?
[1:20:48]
>> Yeah.
[1:20:53]
» Thank you.
[1:20:55]
[laughter]
[1:21:10]
» [laughter]
[1:21:22]
[snorts]
[1:21:25]
[laughter]
[1:21:27]
[clears throat]
[1:21:29]
» One other thing I might consider is
[1:21:30]
adding 11.
[1:21:32]
[laughter] tips because a special event
[1:21:34]
coming require obtaining those
[1:21:35]
instances. The board finds that the
[1:21:37]
ordinary use of the site is not for
[1:21:38]
hosting mobile food members.
[1:21:41]
One thing to consider maybe is to add
[1:21:45]
after the comma where it says because a
[1:21:48]
special event permit is required and
[1:21:50]
obtained in those instances that we
[1:21:52]
would add and there's not otherwise been
[1:21:54]
continuing ongoing food sales on the
[1:21:56]
property.
[1:21:58]
The board finds a decree.
[1:22:21]
Fther edits, thoughts, comments,
[1:22:23]
questions, any discussion.
[1:22:27]
[laughter]
[1:22:31]
In that case, I'll entertain a motion.
[1:22:33]
[laughter]
[1:22:35]
» I make a motion to deny the special case
[1:22:39]
for a [laughter] special permit. We have
[1:22:41]
a motion. Second, a second. Any further
[1:22:44]
discussion?
[1:22:46]
Hearing none. Oh, go ahead.
[1:22:48]
>> Just trying to figure out I
[1:22:50]
>> Yeah. That's fine. Uh hearing none. Um
[1:22:53]
all in favor of denying a special
[1:22:54]
permit.
[1:22:57]
All opposed.
[1:22:59]
So by vote 4 to one. Um the special
[1:23:02]
permit is denied. Um any other edits,
[1:23:07]
thoughts, comments, amendments to the
[1:23:08]
draft decision.
[1:23:12]
Okay.
[1:23:14]
[laughter]
[1:23:16]
Sorry. Just based on that, I would
[1:23:19]
recommend them just change that correct
[1:23:23]
um phone numbers present. Um those and
[1:23:27]
taking Maria off this correct
[1:23:37]
[laughter]
[1:23:39]
motion to approve the [laughter]
[1:23:42]
decision for the special permit as
[1:23:44]
amended. Started with a motion with a
[1:23:47]
second. Any discussion? Hearing none.
[1:23:49]
All in favor of adopting the written
[1:23:52]
decision as amended.
[1:23:55]
All post
[1:23:57]
by voter 41. That also passes.
[1:24:00]
[laughter]
[1:24:01]
All right. The last uh part of the
[1:24:04]
application involves the variance. Um I
[1:24:07]
think it might be helpful just to see it
[1:24:09]
on paper uh to [clears throat] aid in
[1:24:11]
our discussion.
[1:24:14]
Okay.
[1:24:24]
[laughter]
[1:24:42]
» [laughter]
[1:24:59]
» Um, [laughter and clears throat]
[1:25:00]
in the documents list correspondence
[1:25:04]
3D says email from police department
[1:25:06]
dated 13, 26.
[1:25:09]
signal.
[1:25:14]
[laughter]
[1:25:36]
[snorts]
[1:25:37]
Okay. project.
[1:25:55]
[snorts]
[1:25:56]
Tell
[1:26:14]
» [laughter]
[1:26:30]
» So just a clarification on
[1:26:33]
where it says except for local
[1:26:35]
ordinances or bylaws expressly permit
[1:26:38]
variance for use, ours specifically
[1:26:41]
ours does not
[1:26:44]
permit variance for use. Correct.
[1:26:48]
>> Ours does not express
[1:26:49]
>> does not okay.
[1:26:56]
[laughter]
[1:27:09]
handshakes, but
[1:27:12]
the hands [laughter]
[1:27:12]
test.
[1:27:14]
No, I guess
[1:27:31]
people reviewing any thoughts,
[1:27:33]
discussion, edits, comments.
[1:27:43]
Not exactly sure [laughter] or special
[1:27:46]
permit is the correct one clarifying but
[1:27:49]
just yeah
[1:27:52]
recognizing I'm not seeing it as an
[1:27:54]
expansion of use just as they used to
[1:27:56]
serve food.
[1:27:59]
>> Yeah, it's more the special issue.
[1:28:02]
>> Okay, so that's better.
[1:28:08]
Other
[1:28:10]
[laughter]
[1:28:15]
[clears throat]
[1:28:19]
[laughter]
[1:28:35]
questions, comments, thoughts?
[1:28:41]
Not
[1:28:43]
a motion to [laughter]
[1:28:45]
deny.
[1:28:47]
No, sorry.
[1:28:49]
Deny the request for
[1:28:53]
second. We have a motion with a second.
[1:28:55]
Any discussion?
[1:28:58]
Hearing none. All in favor?
[1:29:03]
All right. Any edits, comments, changes,
[1:29:06]
deletions restrict the draft decision.
[1:29:16]
» Make a motion to approve the decision as
[1:29:20]
amended.
[1:29:22]
>> Second
[1:29:24]
motion in a second. Any discussion?
[1:29:28]
Hearing none. All in favor of accepting
[1:29:30]
the decision as amended.
[1:29:33]
>> [laughter]
[1:29:35]
>> That motion passes. Um
[1:29:42]
procedure.
[1:29:43]
>> Yes. Procedure. Uh next steps for that.
[1:29:45]
>> So the next steps are um I will make the
[1:29:47]
edits that the board suggested to these
[1:29:49]
decisions
[1:29:51]
and I will provide you a copy of that.
[1:29:54]
Um once these get filed with the town
[1:29:56]
clerk, that's when I'll do that. Um, you
[1:30:01]
have the right to appeal any decision of
[1:30:03]
the board to land court or superior
[1:30:05]
court. Um, and that must be done within
[1:30:08]
20 days of the filing with the town
[1:30:11]
clerk. Um, I anticipate doing that
[1:30:14]
tomorrow. So, 20 days from tomorrow,
[1:30:17]
we'll begin the appeal period. Um, I
[1:30:21]
think the town clerk has stuff about
[1:30:22]
appeals if that's something you're
[1:30:24]
interested in. Um but otherwise um
[1:30:29]
there's no further action from this
[1:30:31]
board.
[1:30:34]
>> Nice. Thank you for Thank you for your
[1:30:35]
time.
[1:30:36]
>> Thank you.
[1:30:39]
>> On behalf of Mr. Alliance, we graciously
[1:30:42]
appreciate your time and diligence not
[1:30:44]
only here um but the meetings before and
[1:30:47]
I know there's many hours that you spent
[1:30:49]
that we don't see.
[1:30:52]
Thank you for your diligence.
[1:30:53]
>> Yeah. and thank you so much for your
[1:30:54]
time, your patience, and for the the
[1:30:56]
moving of the the meeting from the the
[1:30:58]
last time. We appreciate that, but thank
[1:31:01]
you so much.
[1:31:05]
» All right. I don't believe we have
[1:31:06]
anything else on the agenda for this
[1:31:08]
meeting. Um, can I get a preview of our
[1:31:12]
next meeting or anything? Um, the next
[1:31:15]
meeting, I think we were going to
[1:31:18]
discuss the recent changes to chapter
[1:31:20]
4A.
[1:31:22]
Um the planning board has discussed that
[1:31:24]
there is another um bill that is out
[1:31:27]
right now that has not yet been adopted
[1:31:29]
that the board might be interested in.
[1:31:32]
Um
[1:31:34]
and then
[1:31:36]
there are no other applications filed
[1:31:39]
for September. The deadline was last
[1:31:42]
Thursday and I did not receive anything.
[1:31:46]
Um there's one that might come in for
[1:31:47]
October, but other than that it's been
[1:31:49]
fairly quiet. [laughter]
[1:31:51]
Great.
[1:31:54]
>> And we're on the
[1:31:57]
October Oh, September September 14th.
[1:32:01]
>> Yeah. Yeah.
[1:32:07]
>> As of now.
[1:32:09]
>> Yes. So
[1:32:12]
[clears throat]
[1:32:13]
[laughter]
[1:32:14]
>> I will say for what it's worth if it is
[1:32:15]
a if there is a scheduling conflict if
[1:32:17]
that's the only item on the agenda you
[1:32:19]
know if it is more convenient I mean you
[1:32:21]
tell me otherwise but if it's also more
[1:32:23]
convenient to bump that back to October
[1:32:25]
and can't send the September meeting we
[1:32:26]
could theoretically do that. So just in
[1:32:29]
case someone has a conflict then we feel
[1:32:30]
too bad.
[1:32:32]
>> I'm okay.
[1:32:34]
>> Okay.
[1:32:35]
>> I'm also okay but I always like freeing
[1:32:36]
up September. [laughter]
[1:32:39]
>> All right. Well, Michael and I can talk
[1:32:40]
about it and um you know, we'll go from
[1:32:42]
there. So, and the other option as well
[1:32:44]
is that [clears throat] you know, folks
[1:32:45]
don't want to be in person, you know,
[1:32:46]
it's a discussion that could easily be
[1:32:48]
done.
[1:32:48]
>> Will that be done at six or seven?
[1:32:52]
>> Seven.
[1:32:53]
>> Yeah.
[1:32:57]
» Work.
[1:33:00]
Okay. [laughter]
[1:33:02]
All right. With that, nothing else on
[1:33:04]
the agenda. I will entertain a motion.
[1:33:06]
>> Make the motion to adjurnn. Second.
[1:33:09]
Motion second. Any discussion? Hearing
[1:33:10]
none. All in favor? All right. Thanks so
[1:33:14]
much everybody.
[1:33:16]
[clears throat]