Walpole Zoning Board of Adjustment

Minutes: January 21, 2015

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

Alternates:, Judy Trow.

Absent: Alternates Stephanie Stoughton, Bob Anderson.

Recording: Marilou Blaine. These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the February 18, 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 present so no alternate was needed to fill in.

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

New business: Informational meeting with Mr. Doug Palmer who owns the store SMART Power Sports located at 4 Ames Plaza Lane. He opened the store in December.

Ms. Mansouri explained that the Selectboard received a letter from Jeff and Cathy White of 35 Dearborn Circle, who had concerns about the store. Dearborn Circle is right around the corner from the store. Their concern was that if motorcycles and ATVs were sold or repaired at the store, that customers might be testing out their purchases on their street. Since there were several children in the neighborhood and people like to walk, there was a concern for the safety of these people as well as for peace and quiet.

Mr. Palmer said he is strictly a mail order and Internet business that does some retail business. His business is in parts for snowmobiles, motorcycles and ATVs.  The store sells parts and equipment such as helmets and appropriate clothing. Mr. Palmer said he started his business in 2010 in North Walpole, then went to Keene and now is in Walpole. He wants to work in his hometown, Mr. Palmer said. The business has two rooms in the building, each about 12-feet-by-15 feet. One is a showroom and the other a general office.

Ms. Lester asked how many employees he had and Mr. Palmer replied “one.” Then she asked if he actually sold motorcycles. Mr. Palmer said he didn’t sell them or repair them.

How much foot traffic do you have? Ms. Lester continued. Mr. Palmer said Keene was different and that he was trying to step away from the retail business. He estimated he saw three to five people a day. Mr. Palmer said his business is 40 percent telephone, 40 percent Internet and 20 percent drop-in sales.

Ms. Lester asked when the store was open. Mr. Palmer said he was open Monday through Friday from 9 to 6; Saturday 9 to 3.

People place an order by telephone or over the Internet, Mr. Palmer said. Most of the items are Drop Shipped, meaning that they are ordered through the store but sent directly from the manufacturer with our label. The store does sometimes use the US Postal Service, Fed-Ex or UPS. We actually don’t touch about 90 percent of our sales.

Mr. Vose asked if Mr. Carmody still had his business there. Mr. Palmer said “yes.”

Regarding the letter, Mr. Palmer said that he thought that since they were not going to be doing sales or repairs, that most of the concerns in the letter did not apply to his shop.

Mr. White said that this meeting allayed a lot of his concerns. He said the meeting had been helpful.

Ms. Pschirrer said she hoped Mr. White would share this information with the neighborhood. Mr. White said he would.

The owner, Mr. Carmody, thought SMART Power Sports were within the existing zoning laws, Mr. Palmer said. That’s why he hadn’t come in before.

Regarding signs he has one six-foot-square-sign on the building letting the public know when he is open and a lighted sign that turns on when he’s open.

B&B on Alstead Center Road: The owner is Barbara Dodge, 94 Alstead Center Road. http://www.airB&B. Ms. Dodge’s residence is California.

Ms. Dodge is running what she advertises as a B&B at the Alstead Center address. She shares the driveway with a neighbor and he complained.

Ms. Dodge does not have a license to have a B&B. She is renting the entire two-bedroom ranch. She is not serving breakfast and she does not live there. Her daughter, who lives in Alstead, looks after the operation.

The matter was referred to the Planning Board. Mr. Miller said the Selectboard needs to send the owner a letter asking her to cease her operation and she needs to come in for a Site Plan Review.

Tom Graves gravel pit saga:  Mr. Vose reported that the Westmoreland Planning Board is now involved with the dispute between Mr. Graves gravel pit in Westmoreland and Ms. Patricia Rodrigues.

The Board is going to hire an expert, who can hopefully resolve the situation.

The board adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Secretary