MINUTES August 7, 2017
Meeting held at Otis Town Hall
1 North Main Road, Otis, MA
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
ZBA Members: (Present) Therese Gould, chair, Geoffrey Geane, Edward Partyka, James Kauffman, Kathy Couch
ZBA Members: (Absent) Michael Ernst
Applicant(s) Present: Huan Chun Lin (Aaron), member
Public Attendees: Larry Gould, Meeting at convened 7:00 pm
Agenda item #1 – Review and hear the Special Permit application
Case # 2017-08-01 – Huan Chun Lin; Benchmark Dental
Chairman Therese Gould made introductions of the board members and went over the procedures of the hearing. Kathy Couch will be a voting member this evening. The applicant of Huan Chun Lin; Benchmark Dental, is requesting a Zoning By-Law Special Permit under Sec. 5.2.6(3) of the Otis Zoning by-laws as to erect and maintain a sign in the V-1 Village District. The lot is listed in the Otis assessor’s records as Lot # 35 on Map 10D; located at 11 East Otis Road, Otis, MA
Aaron, (Huan Chun Lin) took over the business from the Higgins two years ago. Aaron felt it was time to take down the banner and erect a sign in the framework where the Higgins had their sign. He would need to add one or two cross members in order to hang the sign from and secure the sign. The sign would be in the form a tooth. He is going to leave the sign in the natural wood color. Dimensions of the sign are approximately 2’x3’.
Ed asked to clarify the cross members that were going to be installed. Aaron stated that they were not going to extend beyond the sign frame work that is currently there.
Ed Partyka made a motion grant the special permit application under Otis zoning bylaws 5.2.6 to be built to the
plans submitted to the board.
Seconded by Jim Kauffman. Terry Gould, Michael Ernst and Geoff Geane voted in favor grant the special permit for the sign.
The application did satisfy the mandatory provisions of MGL, Chapter 40A, and other pertinent statutes and the zoning by laws of the Town of Otis.
Kathy Couch advised the applicant that the special permit will sit in abeyance for 20 days with the town clerk. Then applicant can pick it up on the 21st day. Then file the permit with the Registry of Deeds in Pittsfield then bring the receipt of filing to the building inspector for the building permit. Failure to file or act upon the permit within two years will make the special permit null and void.
Agenda item #2 – Receive information from Building Inspector, Larry Gould
Discussion: Nothing to report
Agenda item #3 –Update for next meeting
Discussion: Next meeting is scheduled for September 5, 2017. This is on a Tuesday due to the Monday holiday, Labor Day. Deadline for applications is August 10, 2017.
Agenda item #4 – Minutes
Discussion: Minutes of the June 19, 2017 meeting were accepted with the changes that were suggested at the meeting.
Agenda item #5 – Mail
Discussion: BRPC is conducting a Medical Marijuana informational meeting if anyone is interested in attending.
Agenda item #7– Old/New business:
Discussion: Discussion of the sign by laws. Geoff Geane conducted a sign survey of all the signs in town. The board members went through the bylaw. Recommendations for bylaw revisions were discussed. Discussion of the next steps. The recommendations need to be presented to the Planning Board then they will go to the Selectmen. Then to a special town meeting. Geoff Geane will present this to the Planning Board.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm
Katherine Couch
Clerk Zoning Board