Manor House tub draws comment at P&Z Meeting

By Susan MacEachron

The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) reviewed plans for an extension of the Rails to Trails network, heard concerns about a zoning permit granted for a new garage and hot tub at the Manor House and accepted two applications for matters that require a public hearing: a re-subdivision of a parcel of land and an amendment to town regulations regarding required acreage for a dog park.

During the opportunity for public comment, Maple Avenue residents Joseph Kelly and Jill Chase expressed concerns about a zoning permit granted to the owner of the Manor House to build a garage and install a hot tub. The Manor House, located on Maple Avenue, is designated as a country inn under regulations amended in 1996.  Kelly said he had attempted to meet with Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) Karl Nilsen but Nilsen had not been in the office when anticipated. Therefore, Kelly had not seen the plans that Nilsen approved and was unclear on the location and exact nature of the proposed structures.  Kelly said that he thought a business operating in a residential zone under a special permit would require a public hearing to modify the terms of the special permit.  Nilsen said the proposed garage was for residential use, not business, and was replacing a car port that would be demolished. He noted that all homeowners are entitled to construct a garage for personal use.  Further, he considered the hot tub a recreational use that is permitted under the existing special permit.  Nilsen and P&Z Chair Tom Fahsbender advised Kelly and Chase to address their concerns to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Attorney Michael Sconyers represented landowner William Gridley, who is requesting a re-subdivsion of the land he owns at 59 Sandisfield Road.  The application was accepted and slated for a public hearing on Aug. 13.

The Friends of Norfolk Community Dog Park, Inc. presented an application for a text amendment to the town’s regulations governing recreational facilities in a residential zone.  Existing regulations have a list of recreational activities that require five acres, and does not include a dog park.  All other potential and unspecified recreational activities require 20 acres.  The application proposes to create a two-acre requirement for a dog park.  The public hearing will be on Aug. 13.

George Johannesen from Allied Engineering presented the Rails to Trails proposal to create a new North Brook Trail.  Johannesen presented the site plan regarding the proposed trail to the Inland Wetlands Agency on July 1. For complete details see this article In response to a question from Fahsbender, Johannesen said the parking area in a corner of the field owned by St. Mary’s Cemetery Association would have a gravel surface.  P&Z approved the proposed trail.

Several P&Z members expressed interest in finding ways to improve the commission’s process.  Wiley Wood suggested that the public should be allowed to comment after each specific matter was put before P&Z instead of only at the beginning of the meeting.  The suggestion was tabled to be discussed at a subsequent meeting.  Jordan Stern said he thought it would be a good time to convene a meeting with various town stakeholders to discuss and review the status of Norfolk’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) goals.  Vice-Chair Chris Schaut noted that the plan must be reviewed and updated every ten years. It was last promulgated in 2019, and he agreed it would be good to have a town hall type meeting mid-way through the 10 years.