Town of Otis
Planning Board Meeting Minutes April 8, 2024
Call to order 7:01 PM
1. Roll Call:
Mark Anthony – Chair
Barb Gallagher
Rona Knight
Terry Cook-Visser
1. Approval of March 11, 2024 minutes
-add note about CPA article in Observer
Rona motion to accept, Mark second, all in favor.
2. Site Plan Review Discussion: 27 N Main Rd
Mark, we discussed concerns about Parking zoning issues with the building inspector and the site plan review is now all set. We will send out an approval letter.
3. Public Hearing: Short Term Rental Bylaws
Email from Annette Lilly read in meeting,
Commercial compactor fee discussed.
Draft from Brandi was not the correct version approved by the select board. Planning Board and Larry will make edits to correct the draft at hearing.
Wanted to remove references to title 5 so the board of health is not involved with it. Title 5 still applies, just not directly involved in STR bylaws.
Separate BOH initial workload from STR bylaws, need to balance workload for initial register of STR applications.
What if there is a leak or failure in the septic system? It can be reported as usual with the board of health but also STR will have inspections.
Rona, nothing here says you have to be 18 years old to rent a property?
Barb, air bnb and virbo have age requirements to make reservation.
Rona, Lee bylaws call out renting to a person under 18 is not allowed,
Larry, question isn’t weather renting to someone under 18 is legal or not, is it necessary to include in bylaw,
Terry Gould, if it goes through to attorney general, you can amend any bylaw at any time, this is a great start here, but can always make changes and revisit bylaws after we see how things go, need to start somewhere, have been waiting a long time to get this through.
Mark, we see more and more STRs in town.
Terry G, need bylaws to protect ourselves in town.
Larry, should make note of any changes we think should be added.
Larry, note about adult was removed because confusion of 18 year old vs 16 year olds in terms of septic and water usage a 16 year old is counted as adult for water and septic use but not an adult in other terms.
Larry, note things can be amended on the floor at the town meeting.
Max occupancy designed to catch the people with 3 bedroom houses that are advertising for 12 people,
If nothing goes wrong you don’t need any of this, but if something goes wrong this is what we use to enforce it.
No formal option to complain without these bylaws it would have to be a housing complaint.
Hopeful all this does is weed out the people who aren’t registered and who have issues
Terry Cook, only change was really taking out wording on septic and title 5.
Larry, this is going to weed out some of those people trying to make a fast money that don’t have these facilities in place,
Mark, motion to close public hearing, Terry second, all in favor.
Terry, make motion to approve changes from selectboard on STR bylaws, Barb second, all in favor.
4. Any other business old or new.
5. Mark motion to adjourn 7:52 PM. Terry Second. All in favor.