By Susan MacEachron

George Auclair’s application to build an additional storage facility at 330 Greenwoods Road East is expected to span at least three Planning & Zoning Commission meetings. It was described at the Dec. 9 meeting and subject to a public hearing on Jan. 13, which will be continued on Feb. 13.

Auclair received a special permit in 2022 to build a storage garage on a commercial property he owns across the street from his garage and gas station at 319 Greenwoods Road East (Route 44). Michael Halloran, representing Auclair, said the new building would be 50-feet by 80-feet in size and the same type of construction and appearance as the existing building. The two buildings would be side by side and positioned parallel to Route 44.

P&Z members had few questions about the new building but expressed concern about the Family Dollar tractor trailer that has been stored on the property from time to time. Halloran noted that Norfolk has a limited inventory of sites zoned for commercial use, and several commercial zones are occupied by residential houses. He also mentioned several locations in town where tractor trailer trucks have been parked over the years. P&Z Chair Chris Schaut said that the only issue before the commission was related to Auclair’s property. Auclair’s 2022 special permit was approved under the regulation governing automobile sales, repairs or service establishments. Schaut questioned whether the regulation section could allow for leasing space for the storage of a trailer truck. He also emphasized that in 2022 Auclair had stated that the building would only be used for his equipment or vehicles he was servicing. Halloran responded by noting that the 2022 special permit placed no conditions on Auclair’s use of the building. The public hearing was continued to the February meeting. Schaut asked Halloran to provide a written statement specifically describing how Auclair intends to use the new building and the property in general. Will Sweeney, owner of Evergreen Construction, who is managing the project, said he thought Auclair would want a large parking space included in the approval for potential storage of vehicles in his own fleet, or trucks he is servicing.

At the Dec. 9 meeting, Kate Briggs Johnson, president of the Foundation for Norfolk Living, provided an update on the road into the Haystack Woods development. It was designed to meet town standards and to be accepted as a town road, subject to approval by P&Z and a vote at a subsequent town meeting. If approved, it would become Norfolk’s first new road in roughly 60 years.

Before asking for P&Z’s approval of the road, Johnson explained that a corner of the patio on house number 7 extended into the town’s right of way. She asked if it could be left as is or whether the patio should be cut back, noting that Public Works Supervisor Troy LaMere said he thought the encroachment did not matter. P&Z decided that it was not advisable to have the patio on town property and Johnson said the encroachment would be addressed.

Johnson also described the addition of a 10-foot by 12-foot storage shed to hold lawn mowing and snow removal equipment. She said it would be erected on a crushed stone base behind house number 8. The shed and equipment would be owned by a homeowners’ association, which is in the process of being formed. Zoning Enforcement Officer Stacey Sefcik said she could issue a zoning permit for the shed. P&Z voted to recommend that town residents accept the new road provided a bond of $10,560 is posted to ensure that the survey pins are put in place once the ground has thawed and that the patio encroachment is removed.