Residents upset by proposed zoning changes
By Karen Mann Journal Correspondent

Residents are unhappy with an article being proposed that would rezone seven parcels of land on Hager Park and Narrows roads from residential to commercial.

The Planning Board heard an overwhelming amount of feedback against this article at a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 23. The hearing was held to discuss four articles being proposed by the board for special town meeting.

"This is looming development this side of town that I don't think residents want," said Pastor Michael Hintze.

Our Savior Lutheran Church, where Hintze is the pastor, is on one of the lots being looked at for rezoning.

Hintze wanted to know why his church was being included in the rezoning.

Planning Board Chairman Andrew Sears said the board had to include more than one parcel of land in the proposal, so it would not be considered "spot zoning."

He said the idea to rezone this area was brought to the board's attention by the owner of the Sonoma building, located at 2 Narrows Road. According to Sears, the owner requested that his lot be rezoned as commercial because it currently operates under a land-use variance permit.

Town Planner Alicia Altieri said when the board considers rezoning areas they look at the long-term goals of the town, and existing land uses and patterns. Altieri had previously said she thought it was a good area to make commercial

"We want to feel like we are benefiting from the rezoning," said Sears.

Hintze said if Westminster puts in too many stores, it will have nothing unique to offer anymore.

He, along with other residents, asked that only 2 Narrows Road be rezoned. He also asked that Sears look into the actual legal ramifications about spot zoning, because Sears was uncertain of them.

Advisory Board member Keith Harding was among the few residents who supported the change.

"We are real good at spending money," he said. "We need other sources of income, we need to diversify our tax base."

He added that at past town meetings and public hearings residents have said they wanted more commercial and tourism related businesses in town.

"We have to put it somewhere," said Harding.

Residents also discussed an article that would allow for retail stores larger than 25,000 square feet to be built in areas zoned commercial or industrial. Each project would require a special permit, which is granted by the zoning board of appeals.

Residents echoed the same concerns as with the previous article, that this would change the uniqueness of Westminster.

Planning Board Vice Chairwoman Marie Auger said townspeople have to change with the times and with the demands of the market.

"People who are asking to build here want more land," she said. "They are quite limited at 25,000 square feet."

Selectman John Fairbanks warned residents if they don't take this opportunity now, they will lose it for good, because the interested businesses will move in down the street. He said then Westminster would reap all of the negative benefits, like additional traffic, without gaining anything positive.

Planning board members stressed the fact that if this article passed, each proposal for a retail store larger than 25,000 square feet would still have to be granted a special permit.

"The purpose is to give the ZBA more flexibility to future tenants," said Auger.

A bylaw being proposed allowing for golf/residential open space communities did not receive much public comment because of confusion between this proposal and a separate project that could be affected if this bylaw were passed.

The Woods of Westminster project, which involves building a subdivision on Bean Porridge Hill Road, was supposed to be discussed at a public hearing that same night at 8:30 p.m. Because the first public hearing was taking more than the hour allotted for it, the planning board postponed the hearing on the subdivision to Monday, Nov. 13. After they did so, many residents left.

Resident Margaret Bujold was upset the GROSC article was being discussed after the planning board closed the other public hearing and in her opinion "asked residents to leave."

She said she was probably one of 75 residents who would want to hear about this article, and the planning board should wait to discuss it.

Auger said it was not a secret that this bylaw was on the agenda, and anyone who was interested would have stayed to hear it.

Because this bylaw was voted down last spring, Altieri highlighted the changes that have been made to the proposal.

A bylaw to adopt low impact development techniques received positive response from residents. A presentation was given by Debbie Shriver of the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition, who was been working with the town on this bylaw.

Shriver explained different systems and ideas that could be used, while Altieri explained how the town would implement these techniques.

According to Altieri, the planning board will take in all the feedback it received and decide whether to revise or not submit any of the articles. She said they would submit a final copy of the articles after their Monday, Oct. 30 meeting.