The Walpolean

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024

TOWN HALL

7pm

These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed for corrections at the January 2025 meeting. 

Roll Call: Board members present: Chair Tom Murray, Vice-Chair Dave Edkins, Clerk Pauline Barnes. Alternate: Don Sellarole. Absent: Board members Shane O’Keefe and Tom Winmill, and alternate Myra Mansouri. 

In the absence of Recording Secretary Marilou Blaine, Clerk Pauline Barnes took the minutes. 

Call To Order: Mr. Murray called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and asked Mr. Sellarole to fill in for a missing member. He thanked Ms. Barnes for stepping in to take the minutes. 

Minutes: Review of the October 2024 and November 2024 minutes. Mr. Murray stated that the reason to return to the October minutes was Mr. Winmill’s view that the minutes did not accurately reflect his motion on signage. Mr. Edkins moved that Mr. Winmill’s email of 3:59 p.m. Sunday, October 20th to the recording secretary be incorporated as an amendment to the October 2024 minutes. Mr. Sellarole seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Mr. Edkins then moved that the October minutes be approved as amended, with Ms. Barnes seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. 

Review of November 2024 minutes. In the sixth paragraph on page one, change Winmilt to Winmill. On page two, paragraph two, first line, substitute the word “motion” for “below.” Mr Edkins 

moved that the November minutes be approved as amended, with Mr. Murray seconding. The motion passed unanimously. 

Placement of Unapproved Minutes Statement. A discussion followed about where to place the statement that minutes are unapproved. Mr. Edkins moved that the disclaimer “These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the following meeting” be placed at the beginning of the minutes rather than at the end. Mr. Murray seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 

2024 Town Report. Mr Murray asked if members had any suggestions for inclusion in his summary of ZBA activities for the 2024 Town Report. Ms. Barnes offered the following: “In consultation with the Southwest Region Planning Commission, the ZBA worked with the Planning Board to update, reorganize, and clarify the Walpole zoning ordinance. This resulted in a number of warrant articles to be presented at the 2025 town meeting.” 

Adjournment: At 7:30 p.m. Mr Murray moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Edkins. The motion passed unanimously. 

Respectively submitted, 

Pauline Barnes, ZBA Clerk 

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MINUTES

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Town Hall

6 pm

Role Call: Present board members: Chair Tom Murray, Vice-Chair Dave Edkins, Clerk Pauline Barnes, Shane O’Keefe, Tom Winmill. Alternate: Don Sellarole. Absent: Alternate Myra Mansouri.

Call to order: Mr. Murray called the meeting to order a couple of minutes after 6 pm. 

Minutes: Review of minutes of October 2024. On page 2, Mr. O’Keefe’s name was misspelled in the paragraph titled “Recess;” add the word “in” to the word “with” in the last sentence. On Page 3, paragraph 6 place the word “access” between the middle of “DOT approval” and remove two letters in the line about the pylon sign. Page 4, change Thursday to Tuesday and add “These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the November meeting.” Mr. Winmill said his motion about signage was not exactly as he wrote it. After some discussion Mr. O’Keefe made a motion to hold off on approving the minutes until December. The board voted unanimously to do so..

OLD BUSINESS

Signage at Dunkin building at 418 Main Street. 

Project manager, Ann Ramsay, from Viewpoint Signs and Awnings in Northborough, MA was the presenter at this meeting.

Mr. Edkins said he looked at the Dunkin file and there was a letter about parking signs on the side of the road. The topic came up at a meeting and a letter sent to Frank Linnenbringer, the DOT contact person for Walpole. Mr. Linnenbringer said these signs were not the responsibility of DOT but it was the town or developer who was responsible for purchase and installation of the signs. Mr. Edkins asked Ms. Ramsay if her client was requesting parking signs. She responded “no.”

The Board was informed that the cup sign on the south side of the building would no longer be part of the package of signs to be approved. Mr. Edkins asked Ms. Ramsay if this was a request from the applicant. She said it was. Mr. O’Keefe asked if there was a letter proving it. She replied “yes” and said Viewpoint would send the board a letter confirming that request.

Mr. Winmillt argued that the “directional signs” were too close to other signs. Comments from board member were that the “enter” and “exit” signs were there to benefit the public and were a safety feature for drivers. 

Ms. Ramsay was asked if the directional signs were lighted. She said yes but the lights could be turned off if requested. Mr. Murray asked Ms. Ramsay if the Dunkin logo was on the directional signs. She said no. 

Mr. Edkins made a motion to approve the signage as presented and requested that the illuminated signs be turned off when the business is not open. Mr. O’Keefe seconded the motion. Mr. Murray, Ms. Barnes, Mr. Edkins and Mr. O’Keefe voted yea in favor of the motion. 

Gravel Pits

Mr. O’Keefe said he found out more about how Westmoreland and gravel pits work. The town of Westmoreland hires an engineering company to oversee gravel pits for the town. The company, not the town, handles the permitting process and also inspects the gravel pits yearly, which is a requirement of the state.

At the end of the meeting Mr. Winmill made the following below.

RESOLVED, that the permits requested be denied on the basis of Walpole Zoning Ordinance ARTICLE IV, D. Signs, as follows, and all prior resolutions of the Board relative to this matter be rescinded:

Sign	Applicable Section
D1 and D2 Directional signs	Section 7 provides that directional signs do not exceed one in any two mile length of road and  not be within fifty (50) feet of any other sign except when mounted on a common post, and Section 6 that provides that signs shall be placed not less than sixty (60) feet from the edge of the traveled roadway and not less than one hundred (100) feet from another sign, and that free-standing signs shall be located no closer than sixty (60) feet from the edge of the traveled roadway
A Dunkin sign Channel Letter 30” H mounted on backer on building	Section 6 that provides that signs shall be placed not less than one hundred (100) feet from another sign
F Drive-thru Speaker Canopy	Section 6 that provides that signs shall be placed not less than one hundred (100) feet from another sign
E Drive-thru Clearance Bar	Section 6 that provides that signs shall be placed not less than one hundred (100) feet from another sign
C Pylon  sign	Section 6 that provides that signs shall be placed not less than one hundred (100) feet from another sign and Section 6 that provides that signs shall be no closer than ten (10) feet from the remaining lot lines

This motion was not seconded.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Edkins made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. O’Keefe seconded the motion and the motion carried, 4-0 with Mr. Murray and Ms. Barnes also voting in favor of adjourning. The time was 7:02 pm.

These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the December meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

ZBA Secretary