DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD Wednesday, March 2, 2011
7:00 PM LINDSAY AND MARCHETA TOWNSEND Variance to allow construction of an addition to their single family residence at 82 Goose Pond Rd.
Members Present: J. Heyer, B.
Murphy, C. Rainville, M. Casey.
Alternates Present: Peter
Rainville
Public Present: Skip Taylor,
ZA
7:00
PM The public notice was read and
introductions were made. Interested
parties were sworn in. Mr. Townsend
presented his evidence including photographs and written testimony on the 5
criteria he needs to meet to get a variance. He plans to preserve the original
structure. The proposed addition and garage would be attached to the side of
the house remaining parallel to the road which is within the front set-back
from the road. It would be problematic
to attach to the back of the structure because of the location of plumbing and
electrical, and stairway and roofing issues. Testimony also included the location of an existing well by the
proposed garage and the distance to a neighbor located behind the Townsend
property (200 ft.).
(Copy in
italics indicate Mr. Townsends answers to the Boards questions.)
B. Murphy asked about the age of the
structure (1890) and if there had
been any attempts to solve the drainage problem behind the structure (water comes through old foundation). She asked about staggering the addition on
the end of the house to meet the setback requirements (no, because of the location of the septic and sewer line) She asked about a Land Use Permit and on which date that permit would expire (the permit expired on May 31, 2003).
M. Casey asked about topography (the land behind the house slopes upward to
a steep embankment) and if the project would solve the drainage problem (no, but building an L-shaped addition
behind the house rather than adding to the front of the structure would develop
a water trap).
P. Rainville asked Mr. Townsend if he was
planning to correct the drainage (yes, by
changing the slope behind the house to redirect the water-flow, but that could
not be done if the addition was added onto the back of the house).
J. Heyer asked if the proposed driveway
would be in-line with the existing driveway (yes,
but would be wider with a 12 to 15-foot culvert added. No access permit is needed).
S. Taylor
noted that, unlike in the old Zoning Regulations, in the new Fairfax
Development Regulations (diagram on p. 38) the proposed addition would be
non-conforming, and therefore needs a variance.
B. Murphy asked about a land use permit
referred to in the covenants and restrictions that Mr. Townsend included in his
evidence and if that was still in affect.
Mr. Townsend offered to go home to get a copy of it for the board to
look at.
7:25
PM B.
Murphy moved to recess
the hearing; M. Casey 2nd. All approved.
7:45
PM B.
Murphy moved to
re-enter the hearing; C. Rainville 2nd. All approved.
Mr. Townsend
presented an Act 250 Land Use Permit dated May 31, 1983 that expired effective
May 31, 2003. All covenants and
restrictions are expired.
8:00 PM B. Murphy moved to close the hearing to
input; P. Rainville 2nd. All approve.
Respectfully
submitted,
Martha
Varney, Planning and Zoning Assistant
Approved:________________________________________ Date:________________2011
For the Development
Review Board
.
These minutes are unofficial until
approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting.