The Walpolean

JOINT MEETING MINUTES

OCTOBER 22, 2024 

Town Hall 7 pm 

Present:

Planning Board: Chair Jeff Miller, Vice-Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Joanna Andros, Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio. 

Zoning Board of Adjustment: Chair Tom Murray, Clerk Pauline Barnes, Shane O’Keefe and Tom Winmill. 

Southwest Region Planning Commission: Executive Director Todd Horner, senior planner Carol Ogilvie. 

Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 7 pm. 

Tonight’s discussion was about amendments to the Zoning Ordinances that will be put on the 2025 warrant. The final language will be presented to the members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board for approval at the November 26th meeting of the Joint Committee. A public hearing on the document will be held in December 2024. January 10, 2025 is the last date that any hearing can be held for an item to be placed on the warrant. 

There are eight (8) proposed amendments to go on the warrant. Following is a brief description of each amendment, 

Amendment 1: Reorganize and clarify the material in the Walpole Zoning Ordinances to make it easier to understand the document and to conform to current RSAS. 

Amendment 2: Add the following language to Article IV – General Provisions, and renumber accordingly: “No building, structure, or land shall be used for any purpose or in any manner other than that which is permitted in the district in which it is located.” 

Amendment 3. Amend Article XVII – Definitions for Nonconforming Use and adding definitions for Nonconforming Lot, and Nonconforming structure. 

Amendment 4. Amend Article X – Nonconforming Uses by amending Paragraph C as follows and adding a new Paragraph E. 

• Example: Paragraph C: A nonconforming lot may not be voluntarily reduced in size: however, a nonconforming lot may be increased in size. 

Amendment 5: List of the powers of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. 

Amendment 6: Amend Article IV (General Provision E. Removal of Sand and Gravel) by replacing Zoning Board of Adjustment as the regulator of sand and gravel permits and assigning that responsibility to the Planning Board. 

Article 7: Amend Article IV (General Provisions D. Signs) as follows: 

All signs require review by the Planning Board as follows: 

1. If the sign is associated with a site plan that is before the Planning Board, it shall be approved as part of the site plan. 
2. Changed or updates to signs (except for content) require review and approval by the Planning Board at a regular board meeting. 

Amendment 8: Amend Article IV – General Provisions Paragraph F and Article IX, Paragraph B to reassign administrative and enforcement responsibilities from the Zoning Board to the Select Board. 

• Amend Article IV F. Trailers and Mobile Homes 
• Amend Article IX Timberland District Uses Permitted any use permitted…. A building may only be constructed in this District provided a permit is obtained from the Select Board or designee whose duty it shall be to grant such permit. 

The Table of Permitted Uses, while a useful tool for determining what is and is not permitted in a particular zoning district, is not part of the actual zoning ordinances document. 

The group adjourned at 8 pm and plan to meet again on the 4th Tuesday of November. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Marilou Blaine, WPB Secretary