Zoning Board of Appeals — Meeting
Minutes — July 17, 2008
Selectmen's Office
A duly posted meeting of the Shelburne Zoning Board of Appeals was held
at the Selectmen's Meeting Room at Town Hall, 51 Bridge Street, Shelburne,
on July 17, 2008.
Members Present: Joseph Palmeri, William Sweeney, Theodore Merrill
Members Absent: Laurie Bluver-MacLeod, Catherine Smith, Lowell Laporte,
John Taylor
Guests Present: Richard Broadhurst, John Payne, John & Carolyn Wheeler
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Joe Palmeri at 7:25 p.m.
The Board listened to Mr. Broadhurst, who came to apprise the Board
of his difficulties with a building permit first approved, and then apparently
rescinded, by the Building Inspector on the grounds of inaccurate information
given. Mr. Broadhurst seems to be faced with the necessity therefore
of getting a variance to complete his project. After looking at Mr. Broadhurst's
site map and listening to his history of his lot, the chair said there
seemed to be reason to invoke Section 5.3.2 of the zoning by-law and
thereby remove he necessity of applying for a variance, since the required
setback involves land taken for public use. Further discussions with
the Building Inspector are in order.
The Board then turned its attention to Mr. Payne and Mr. & Mrs.
Wheeler. They have been working for about a year on the feasibility of
establishing a meat-processing facility in the former Mohawk Orchards
building on Colrain-Shelburne Road. No opinion or decision was being
asked of the ZBA; they wished only to 1) acquaint the Board with their
tentative plans, and 2) elicit our ideas concerning some difficulties
they could expect but might not have thought of.
- They presented the difficulties
that farmers are having in the current state of the area's economy
- and pointed out that processing locally-raised livestock, thus avoiding
much of the stunning growth in transportation costs to present facilities,
presented "compelling" economic
opportunities to local farmers. They indicated why their proposed site
was ideal for reasons of location, size, and cost. They distributed
a series of sketches indicting the present layout of the building and
the changes called for by such a facility. They spoke of the volume
required to make the operation economically sound.
- As for the "hurdles" involved
with such a project, conversation turned principally to response by
neighbors, and to what effect present zoning regulations would have
on decisions about a) the square-footage used in the facility and b)
the conversion of the building to agricultural-manufacturing use.
At 9:25 p.m., Mr. Payne and Mr. & Mrs. Wheeler indicated their satisfaction
with the conversation and left. Board members spent time discussing the
particular zoning by-laws involved with both these projects.
Sweeney moved to adjourn, Merrill seconded, and it was voted to adjourn
at 10:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William R. Sweeney, Clerk pro tem |
