Jackson Zoning Board Tackles Contentious Zoning Dispute

In a recent Jackson Zoning Board meeting, a debate unfolded over a zoning issue concerning the classification of a warehouse property. The discussion centered on whether the property in question should be classified as a contractor’s warehouse, a use permitted within the town’s ordinance, or as a general warehouse. The applicant’s representative argued that a 2020 determination had classified the property as a contractor’s warehouse, but the later approval did not specify this, leading to an appeal. Council member Mordechai Burnstein raised concerns about the potential for circumventing legal proceedings, while Scott Sargent questioned the timing of the appeal, suggesting the board may have missed the deadline for filing. The debate was further complicated by public commentary, with residents expressing concerns about the development’s potential impact on the community. The meeting concluded with the decision to carry the application to the February 21st zoning board meeting for further discussion.

The zoning dispute drew attention as the council debated the nuances of the town’s zoning ordinance, particularly the lack of a clear definition for “Contractor’s Warehouse.” The dialogue highlighted the board’s struggle to interpret and apply the ordinance’s provisions, with some members pointing out the potential consequences of making a decision without sufficient evidence or clear understanding of the proposed use.

As the board members delved into the matter, they expressed differing opinions on the best course of action. Concerns were raised about the planning board’s jurisdiction, the rights of objectors, and the need for a clearer explanation of the request before making a decision. The debate touched on the historical context of similar cases and the engineering reasoning behind the classifications, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the issue at hand.

A board member was vocal about the potential legal implications of the decision, expressing his reluctance to support the request for deconsolidation of the lots and reminding the board about the variances that run with the land, not with the person. His apprehension about potential litigation was shared by another board member, who expressed reservations, stating, “I’m not judging a land use issue here.”

The board’s discussion was further fueled by public testimony from residents like Brandon Zinc, who raised concerns about the noise and operational impact of an ATV Motocross park on nearby residential areas.

The meeting also saw the reappointment of professionals to the Zoning Board, with Ryan Murphy from Gerner Murphy being reappointed as the board’s attorney. However, applications for the positions of board engineer were rejected, prompting a request for new proposals. Ernie Peters from Remington and Vernick Engineers was confirmed as the board planner, but bids for the conflict engineer and traffic engineer positions were debated, leading to a decision to rebid these roles.

In a separate zoning matter, the board’s addressed Facility 2 LLC’s request for a modification of a previously approved site plan. Salvator Alfery, representing the applicant, proposed a solution to connect Nick Janusa’s property to the project permanently, prompting a debate over the enforceability of such a condition. Ian Bordon, a professional planner, presented changes to allow the business to operate independently, but concerns were raised by the public about the impact on Janusa’s residence.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Mayor:
Colleen Lambert
Zoning Board Officials:
Lynne Bradley, Joseph Riccardi, Jeanine Kaunitz Fritch, Carl Book Jr, James Hurley, Robert Hudak, Greg Stafford-Smith, Shira Parnes, Raymond Lovacco, Jeffrey Purpuro, Dawn D’Agostino (Zoning Board Clerk), Francesca DiBella (Recording Secretary and Reporter), Ryan Murphy (Attorney), Evan Hill (Engineer), Ernie Peters (Traffic Engineer)

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording