Central to the meeting was the application by Friendly Tree Service for the use of a property that included vehicle storage with some light maintenance but no major repairs or washing of vehicles. The applicant, Mr. Lang, managing member of the LLC, emphasized that the property would be used solely for vehicle storage and that an existing shed would be repurposed for minor repairs and equipment storage. The shed’s use was to be revised to reflect this change.

Board members raised questions related to the number of vehicles stored, the presence of signage, and the driveway’s encroachment onto neighboring property. The application’s engineer provided an existing conditions plan, highlighting the property’s topography, environmental constraints, and flood hazard area limit, noting that part of the building and the gravel area were within the flood plain.

The applicant also discussed plans for employee parking, including the possibility of shuttling employees from another location to reduce the on-site parking requirement. Snow removal practices were touched upon, with the applicant stating there was no plowing in the gravel area during winter.

John McDon, a qualified individual before the board, presented findings arguing that the proposed business was in alignment with the zone’s permitted uses and did not constitute a substantial departure from the zone plan or the character of the area. McDon emphasized that the site had good sight suitability and met the positive criteria for the relief while addressing the negative criteria by stating the business would be organized in a safe manner without creating adverse impacts.

A key point of contention was the proposed signage for the business. The board and the applicant debated the sign’s size, location, and lighting. The board expressed the need for the sign to be well-placed and appropriately lit to avoid any potential issues. Additionally, the property owner had observed vehicles going in and out of the site.

Further, the board planner’s report highlighted concerns regarding the shed encroachment, storage of hazardous materials, and trash handling. The applicant agreed to specific conditions set forth in the resolution, which included the non-legitimization of any encroachments onto neighboring properties. The resolution required specificity regarding the encroachment issue and included conditions to limit vehicle maintenance, storage of materials, and the placement and lighting of the sign.

The board also passed a resolution for an application involving a variance for the construction of an open deck coverage for a wedding reception. The applicant described the deck as an afterthought, proportional to the size of the house. The board planner and engineer did not object, leading to the granting of the variance.

Another application discussed was a request to postpone a case until May 22nd, which the board accepted. This allowed the applicant additional time to prepare or adjust their proposal before presenting it to the board.