Townsend Select Board Debates Necessity of Permits for Mall Developments

In a recent Townsend Select Board meeting, members scrutinized the necessity of requiring site plan reviews and stormwater management permits for projects within a pre-existing mall, specifically addressing a new Starbucks planned in the former Santander Bank building. The board was divided on whether these permits were necessary, with some arguing the mall’s previous approvals should suffice, while others cited potential traffic and parking implications.

The discussion centered around the application for a site plan and stormwater management permit for a proposed Starbucks on Main Street, formerly the Santander Bank. One board member expressed strong opposition, arguing that past approvals should negate the need for current permits, describing the situation as “bogus” and unnecessary. Another member pointed out that the potential increase in traffic due to the Starbucks could justify the need for further review, despite the site’s existing setup.

The conversation also touched upon a planning board referral for a project on Depot Street, which is set to come before the zoning board of appeals. This project involves the expansion of a pre-existing non-conforming use, and while the planning board has already made a comment on the referral, the select board decided to refrain from making any additional comments until the zoning board hearing.

Additionally, the board briefly discussed a proposal on Main Street, where Honeyland Farms aims to convert part of their space into a UPS Store. This change triggered a site plan review, but the board did not express significant concern, seeing the inclusion of a UPS Store as beneficial.

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.
Town Administrator:
Eric Slagle
City Council Officials:
Charles Sexton-Diranian, Joseph Shank, Theresa Morse

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