Zoning Board of Adjustment
Site Walk Minutes
October 22, 2003
Members present: Jane Roberts, Edwin Mattson and Coni Porter; Alternate.
Members absent: Michael A. Methe; Chairman, Daniel Baker, and Gerald Neiman; Alternate
6:00 p.m. Site Walk scheduled for Case #03-13, Case #03-14 and #03-15, applications filed by Lois J. Kelly of 15 Perry Road, Tax Map 29; Lot 03 in the Residential District. The applications are scheduled for a public hearing tomorrow evening, October 23, 2003 beginning at 8:00 p.m. Ms. Kelly is seeking a Variance to conduct a llama hiking business to be based out of her residence; a Variance allowing her to have livestock (llamas) on a parcel less than five acres in size, and a Special Exception to allow her to have livestock on a parcel located in the Residential District.
The Board members present and Margo Best, Land Use Administrative Assistant met at the Fitzwilliam Town Hall and departed at 6:05 p.m. arriving at the subject property at 6:10 p.m. The applicant met the Board members and pointed out her property lines. The house is set back approximately 20’ from the road and there is a shed to the left set back in the back yard and a garage further to the left approximately 15’ from the neighbor’s property line to the left. To the right of the house there is approximately 50’ to the other neighbor’s property line. It is this neighbor that has offered Ms. Kelly use of some of their land for the llamas.
The Board members and Ms. Kelly walked to the rear yard and again Ms. Kelly pointed out her property lines. Approximately 100’ back from the cleared yard area to the right, there is a large boulder with her property line being behind that and then it extends to the left for 200’ or so. Ms. Kelly said that her lot is 200’ deep and the total acreage according to the survey done in December 2002 is 1.08 acre. Coni Porter walked deep into the lot and observed an area to the left draining into the wetlands and noted that it looks like there is a trail across from the rocks and she observed a fort out there. Ms. Kelly said that the trail is the general area of her property line and the fort is not on her property. Ms. Porter added that it looks like some tree
cutting has been done and Ms. Kelly said that her neighbor has been doing some cutting recently.
Mr. Mattson asked about the llamas to which Ms. Kelly said she bought three males as they are more people friendly. Two of them have been gelded and the third one, also the youngest one would be done in a year or so. Ms. Kelly said that she is not going to breed them, and they are strictly for hiking. Ms. Kelly also said that she has all of the paperwork to apply to the State for a Special Permit to hike along the railroad beds, but she doesn’t want to file it until she knows if the business is going to be allowed. Ms. Kelly has also written a letter to another abutter, Bruce Vaal, requesting permission to hike the llamas across his property to the railroad bed, versus hiking into the Depot. She is looking for different ideas and options. People interested in going on
a hike will make reservations by telephone or through e-mail, as it is not Ms. Kelly’s intent to have anyone go to her home. Ms. Porter noted that the railroad beds in town would offer a lot of hiking areas and she said that there is a railroad bed near her property which a lot of 4-wheelers utilize. Ms. Porter told Ms. Kelly that it is something to think about with regards to the llamas and people that could be hiking.
Ms. Kelly told the Board members that the yard would be fenced in within three weeks and she noted that a cement pad would be done in the spring for the compost. Ms. Porter said that she noticed an odor coming from the right hand side of the property.
Mr. Mattson clarified that no one would be going to the property for this business and Ms. Kelly said that was correct. Mr. Mattson asked Ms. Kelly if she had any plans to expand the business in the future and she said that she did not.
The Board members thanked Ms. Kelly for allowing them to conduct this site walk. The Board left at 6:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Margo M. Best
Administrative Assistant
Land Use Boards
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