Chair plans to resign

By Susan MacEachron 

Meeting on Nov. 12, the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) approved installation of ground mounted solar panels, the expansion of an accessory building and a site plan modification to allow Meadowbrook to create four additional parking spaces. Short-term rentals were discussed without a conclusion as to what is currently permitted. Board Chair Tom Fahsbender also announced his plan to resign at the end of the year.

Tom O’Brien from Momentum Solar began to present a plan for a solar array at 400 North St., but the public hearing was immediately paused because the property is held in a trust and there was no documentation to indicate that the trustee, Douglas Toby Miner, had authorized Momentum Solar to represent the trust. Steve Landes, an alternate member of the P&Z who also resides at the property, said Miner is his son. Miner then authorized Momentum Solar to represent the trust when reached by phone.

O’Brien said the proposed array would be approximately 60 feet by 21 feet, and he anticipated installation would start in late December and take two to three days. Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) Stacey Sefcik said that two abutting neighbors came in to inspect the file, and neighbors Kim and Marc Crone attended the meeting. Kim Crone said they were not opposed to solar but were concerned about the removal of trees and the impact to the rural nature of their property.  Landes, who did not vote on the application, responded that he had walked his property with the Crones and none of this would impact their property. He said a “buffer zone” of small trees and bushes would be retained but that larger shade trees would be removed to provide sunlight for the panels.

Landes said he chose ground-mounted panels because the roof would not provide an adequate supply of power. He wanted to get them installed before winter to avoid high electric bills since last February’s bill hit $1,960.00. Despite an observation from P&Z member Ned Barron that the board made a site visit the last time they considered a ground mounted installation, array was approved. Written authorization from Miner regarding representation by Momentum Solar was set as a condition.

The application to construct a larger building at 542 Greenwoods Road East to accommodate the production of maple syrup generated no public comment and was quickly resolved. The applicant Terry Anstett Jr. represented himself and described his plan to replace an existing garage and sap house with a new accessory building that would be larger than his house. Anstett noted that he has made maple syrup for many years and needs a larger space to ease production. He specifically mentioned he does not intend to sell firewood or Christmas trees, and that he would like to complete the project by next fall. P&Z unanimously approved the new building.

Meadowbrook Apartments, Norfolk Senior Housing, represented by board member Ron Zanobi came to P&Z to request a site plan modification for additional parking. Zanobi described the plan to create four spaces on the north side adjacent to the building and directly behind the Immaculate Conception Church. He explained that the location provided easy access to the elevator for the upper floors. Zanobi said the plan to asphalt the new parking area had been reviewed and approved by the Inland Wetlands Agency. P&Z approved the site plan modification with the condition that Meadowbrook provide a letter from the Church specifically granting permission to allow access and construction work on its property.

In her ZEO report, Sefcik said she had received a complaint about short-term rentals and wanted to know how P&Z members viewed the matter. Commission members noted that Norfolk’s zoning regulations do not specifically address short-term rentals, but the regulations do allow rental of up to two bedrooms in an owner-occupied house, and rental of an entire house to a family.  

Barron said this had been discussed in the past and P&Z had decided to leave the matter as is.  It was noted that any activity not specifically allowed is considered prohibited. Members agreed that regulations in this area are difficult to draft, and enforcement is challenging. Sefcik said she would look through past minutes to see if she could find any helpful information.