WILTON — Planning Board members agreed Thursday to hold a public hearing in December for residents to discuss a zoning change for a lot on Routes 2 and 4.
But, since the meeting, a decision has been made to not hold a secret ballot vote on the zoning change in January, Town Manager Rhonda Irish, said Friday.
A hearing needs to be held before the town can vote on the zone change.
Holding a secret ballot vote in January, in conjunction with the election of a new Selectperson, was under consideration so the planning board set the meeting for Dec. 17 in time for a January vote.
After double checking procedures, Irish said she is not going to ask the Select board to include the item as a vote in January.
The article to change the zoning of that particular lot to a commercial lot will instead be included in the warrant for the annual town meeting in June, she said.
The Planning Board and Code Enforcement Officer can now reconsider whether to hold the public hearing now or at a later date, she said.
During the hearing, residents can voice their opinions on a change from a residential one lot to a commercial lot for the property located next to Dutch Treat.
Miguel Ibarguen of South Paris applied for a permit to build just a storage building, for now, on the cleared lot.
The board expected to review the application Thursday but prior to the meeting, the town’s Code Enforcement Officer, Roger Williams, had given Ibarguen a building permit for the building.
Under the town’s residential 1 zoning, Williams found that the code enforcement officer can issue permits for accessory buildings such as sheds, barns and storage units, he told the board.
Owner of Bowley Brook Maple Inc., Ibarguen eventually wants to sell maple syrup equipment from the site, he said Wednesday.
But, any commercial operation will have to wait for the town voters to consider a zoning change for the lot. This particular lot is considered residential one with commercial lots surrounding it, Irish said.
Ibarguen said he has other permits needed for the lot including an entrance permit to the lot from the highway from Maine Department of Transportation.
abryant@sunmediagroup.net
Send questions/comments to the editors.
