Walpole Zoning Board of Adjustment

Minutes: December 17, 2014

Present: Board Members: Chair Myra Mansouri, Vice-Chair Peggy Pschirrer, Clerk Ernie Vose, Jan Galloway Le Clerc, Mary Therese Lester.

Alternates: Bob Anderson and Judy Trow.

Absent: Stephanie Stoughton

Recording: Marilou Blaine.

These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the January 21, 2015, meeting for corrections, additions and/or omissions.

Roll Call: Ms. Mansouri called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. All board members were in attendance, so no alternates were called to fill in.

Minutes: Ms. Trow made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Mr. Vose seconded it and the board approved the motion.

Old Business:

Mobile home on rental property owned by Jaffrey Family Trust. Last month, Mr. Jack Jordan contacted Ms. Mansouri about renting a home at 5 Hooper Road and storing a mobile on the property. Hooper Road is in Residential A District where mobile homes are not permitted. But the Jaffrey Family Trust also had another property nearby on which it could possibly be stored. But Mr. Jordan’s request was mute because a renter cannot make such a request, it must come from the owner who must attend a meeting and make the request.

So a letter was sent to Mr. Clarence Jeffrey, who is listed as the power of attorney on the Town Tax form. Mr. Lewis Jaffrey, who now has power of attorney, responded. He wrote that:

Mr. Jordan said he had a camper not a mobile home.

Mr. Jordan answered an ad for renting at 267 Old Keene Road. He decided not to rent from the Trust and  “the house is vacant and available.”

The home at 5 Hooper Road is rented by Hugh Colburn.

There is no “camp” at 267 Old Keene Road.

No one from the Jaffrey Family Trust will be attending the meeting.

House Bill 1210: This bill requires towns to notify property owners when considering changes to zoning districts. Since the Walpole Planning Board approved of an amendment to the Walpole Water Ordinance, this new HB1210 requirement will go into effect.

Chair Mansouri had a question about the wording “affect 100 or fewer properties.” How many is fewer? Government Affairs Director Bob Quinn said that fewer can refer to as little as one property. Ms. Mansouri said that the town attorney, Jeremy Hockensmith, said the more you mail, the better your are. Don’t skip.

Old Jiffy Mart: Ms. Mansouri had a call from Town and Country Realtors inquiring about zoning regulations for an auto repair shop at the former Jiffy Mart. She told the realtor that since renovations would probably cost more than $10,000, the owner of the shop would have to go to the Walpole Planning Board for a Site Plan Review. In addition, since the property is north of the Cold River, it is in the North Walpole Zoning District and the owner would have to approach the North Walpole Town Commissioners and North Walpole Zoning Board of Adjustment as well. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year,

Marilou Blaine, secretary