MINUTES
Wednesday, August
30, 2006
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman A. Savage called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
A. Savage, Chairman, T. Frenette, alternate; Lewis Cassady, alternate; S. Martin, regular
Others present were Ed Samson, Dan Fournier, William Bishop and David & Carol Haas
Chairman Savage appointed T. Frenette and L. Cassady as full-voting members for case #459 and case #460.
Case #459 William H.
Bishop for a use variance concerning article 5 section 5.04i of the Zoning
Ordinance. Applicant requests to
site a 28’ x 48’ doublewide manufactured home on a full foundation on
Chairman Savage addressed William Bishop stating that there has been quite a bit of discussion surrounding the difference between a singlewide mobile home and a doublewide manufactured home. He then asked Mr. Bishop to go through his plans with the board. Mr. Bishop went on to say that he has lived there for 30 years and feels that manufactured homes are made just a nice as any other homes and feels that there should be no problem with him putting one on his own land on a full foundation. Chairman Savage asked the board members to refer to the definition of manufactured housing. He then asked if there were any abutters present. There was not. Ed Samson went on to advise Mr. Bishop that the definition of manufactured housing is not always clear but feels that the construction of manufactured homes have come a long way from years ago. He said he looked at the picture of Mr. Bishops’ proposed home on a full foundation and felt that it would be satisfactory but he would need a variance. S. Martin added that he felt if someone owned their own land for 30 years they should be able to put a manufactured home on it if they choose.
Motion was made by S. Martin and seconded by
T. Frenette to approve a use variance on lot 4 for William H. Bishop to place a
doublewide manufactured home on a full foundation in the Agricultural
Zoning District.
MOTION CARRIED – UNANIMOUS
Chairman Savage cautioned Mr. Bishop that the public still has 20 days to appeal this decision.
Case #460 Currier RV of Lancaster/GRJH
for a use variance concerning article 5 section 5.02 of the Zoning
Ordinance. Applicant requests to sell
6-12 vehicles and otherwise “operate a motor vehicle sales agency” in the
commercial Zoning District. (
Ed Samson started by stating that he at first felt that the sale of vehicles would be allowed but after referring to the definitions of retail sales vs. commercial industrial sales felt it would not be allowed in this commercial industrial zone without a variance.
Chairman Savage asked Dan Fournier to explain their position. Dan went on to explain that on the off season for campers it would only leave them with Articat so they would like to park 6-12 used vehicles on the lot that abuts the state land to add some income to the business. Based on the last couple of years sales have not been good and they are not asking for 50 vehicles, just a dozen or less. This is more or less just to draw attention from traffic going through town. The sale will still take place at the main store.
Chairman Savage asked abutters, Dave & Carol Haas, how they felt about this. Carol went on to say that there seemed to be more than 10-12 campers and some boats on the lot now. Dan Fournier replied explaining that they do not sell boats and that customers had been dropping off their boats and campers that are to be stored in a building that Currier RV leases at the Lancaster Fairgrounds. Because it is fair time, they are not able to use that building. As soon as the fair is over, they will be storing all these extras back up there.
L. Cassady made question of the last time Currier RV was looking for a variance in January as to the number of vehicles allowed then. Chairman Savage and S. Martin reminded him that is was more about the noise factor with the repair shop. Dan Fournier replied by stating that the repair work they are doing is not noisy. David Hass agreed that it has not been noisy and feels that the campers on his side look organized. Dan responded by reminding him that the clutter on the other side is temporary and for the winter the lot in front of the Haas’s house will be empty. The vehicles will be in front of the Sunoco Station. T. Frenette went over the clutter issue with Dan again reiterating the fact that it will be cleaned up as soon as the fair is over and he is able to move the extra vehicles. Dan said that was correct.
Chairman Savage asked if this was fine with the abutters. David & Carol Haas replied by saying that it was fine with them but that the back of the property seemed very cluttered. Carol asked Dan Fournier about the sign to which he replied it was not his but, if they wanted, he could move it behind the Chevy store.
Dan Fournier then asked the board if this variance would override the other variance or did they co-exist. Chairman Savage replied by stating that when a variance is granted, it is forever.
T. Frenette asked Dan Fournier if he would be moving the vehicles out and putting the campers back in the spring. Dan replied by stating that there is not enough room for everything at once so they would be changing in the fall, winter and early spring.
Chairman Savage cautioned Dan that the crates that are adjacent to the sidewalk might pose a problem for the sidewalk plow in the winter.
Motion was made by T. Frenette and seconded by
L. Cassady to approve a use variance on lot 16 for Currier RV of Lancaster/GRJH
to advertise 6-12 vehicles on their lot at
MOTION CARRIED – UNANIMOUS
Chairman Savage cautioned Dan Fournier that the public has 20 days to appeal this decision. Dan Fournier asked if there would have to be a second meeting or just this one. Chairman Savage reminded him that they are not changing the sign, just adding product, so there is no need for a second meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion was made by S. Martin and seconded by T.
Frenette to approve the minutes of the July 26, 2006 meeting.
MOTION CARRIED – UNANIMOUS
Motion was made by T. Frenette and seconded by L.
Cassady to adjourn the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED – UNANIMOUS
Meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Shelly H. Fitch
Clerk for the Zoning Board
_________________________________
Alan Savage, Chairman
Zoning Board of Adjustment