Members Present: Jane Roberts, Chairman, Coni Porter, Gretchen Wittenborg, and Ashley Fletcher.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.
Case # 05 -14: Dave White seeks an Area Variance to encroach on minimum front and side yard setbacks by building a 24X26 two-car garage on property located at 50 Keene Avenue on Laurel Lake, Map 25, Lot 9-01, Rural District. Denied 9/13/05.
The September 13, 2005 decision of the Board of Adjustment to deny an Area Variance to Mr. White was appealed by the Town of Fitzwilliam Code Enforcement Officer on the grounds that Mr. White’s dwelling is on a private road and therefore the front setback requirement is twenty (20) feet not seventy-five (75) feet. The letter of appeal is incorporated as part of these minutes.
Fletcher moved, Wittenborg seconded and the Board voted to rehear the case, given this new information.
Noting that on a June 14, 2005 application from Mr. White, the Board granted a side setback variance for a greater variance than is requested on this new application, Roberts asked for a motion to grant the Area Variance for the side setback requested on September 13, 2005.
Wittenborg moved, Fletcher seconded and the Board voted to grant the Area Variance for the side setback. A Notice of Decision will be mailed to appropriate parties.
The Public Hearing was closed and the Board met in a public meeting to discuss administrative and training matters.
Roberts noted that this meeting was scheduled so the Board could discuss ways to improve its own performance. Members made various suggestions, including:
Ø Inform the chairman you want to ask the applicant a question before you ask.
Ø Don’t engage in Q & A with the audience, ask questions through the chairman.
Ø Don’t make judgmental statements.
Ø Ask only questions that are appropriate to the case and the ordinance.
Additionally, applications should be complete and drawings should be done to scale or by an engineer. Sandra will screen applications for completeness before accepting them.
The Board believes there is a presumption that the town residents know and applicants are aware there are bylaws regulating action; that there is good faith on the part of the applicant; that the Board can rely on the signature on the application as an indication of both of the above.
Suggestions for the next training meeting include a discussion of ‘reasonable’ – for instance, farm animals as pets or overcrowding in lake districts; and exploring ‘judgmental questions’ further.
The Board decided to add several more alternates, as a way of training future Board members and to insure adequate coverage for meetings. Roberts asked that new alternates be phased in, rather than add 3 at one time. Names to be recommended to the Board of Selectmen include Dianne Schott, Steve Filipi, and Angela Deardon. Roberts asked Gillis to discuss ZBA service with them.
The Board expressed a wish to continue training, perhaps by being observed and critiqued.
Fletcher moved, Porter seconded and the Board voted to adjourn at 9:05 PM.
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