Show All Answers

1. When and where are the Board of Appeals meetings?

The Board of Appeals meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 P.M. in Room 210.

2. How do I apply for a public hearing before the Board of Appeals?

You must apply to the Building Department to obtain a Denial Form for a Special Permit or Variance if your building department request does not meet the Zoning By-Laws. The Denial Form is then submitted to the Board of Appeals office clerk to obtain the instructions and applications for a public hearing.

3. How many plans are needed for the Board of Appeals petition?

It depends...

Five (5) copies of a Certified Plot Plan are required for a Special Permit and/or Variance petition.

Five (5) floor plans are required for a restaurant.

For in-law apartments, three (3) copies of the in-law apartment plans showing the facade of the dwelling and the proposed addition, along with interior plans for the main dwelling and proposed in-law apartment are required.

4. What other information is required for a Board of Appeals petition request?

The Board of Appeals fees are $50 for a residential hearing request and $150 for a non-residential hearing request.

5. How soon will I have my hearing before the Board of Appeals?

Generally, the petition is filed with the Town Clerk's office. Then the Board of Appeals schedules the hearing four (4) to six (6) weeks later to meet advertising time frames.

6. How long after the Board of Appeals meeting is the petitioner allowed to apply for the building permit?

If the petition is approved, the Board is allowed up to two (2) weeks to prepare the decision, have members sign it, and record the decision with the Town Clerk's office. There is a 20-day appeal period from the Town Clerk's recording date, after which the petitioner must return to the Town Clerk's office for certification and proceed to the Registry of Deeds to record the decision.

7. How long is a Special Permit or Variance valid?

A Special Permit must be used within two (2) years and a Variance must be used within one (1) year. Upon request by the petitioner, one (1) six-month extension only is allowed after two years from the date of the original Special Permit hearing and one year after the date of the original Variance public hearing.