Ordinance Committee Considers Storage Facilities
By Leslie Rott

Storage buildings and sun canopies were topics for discussion at the city's Ordinance Committee meeting Wednesday, June 21, and both matters will be reviewed as the summer progresses.

The city does not allow accessory buildings on properties before a primary building is erected, so buildings used solely for storage are currently prohibited. Homes can have accessory buildings, however, and such private storage buildings are not of concern.

The storage building issue came up last year when Richard Coates asked for a variance to convert his Stonecliffe property on Greenshed Lane to a commercial storage facility. That request was denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Committee members said they are concerned that such storage buildings could be hard to regulate, could lead to increased traffic in their vicinity, and are a potential eyesore.

"Whatever decision is made, we will have to include some serious architectural requirements," Chairman Mike Hart said.

"I think we need to study this and get an idea," Mayor Margaret Doud said of the matter.

"It would probably make sense to incorporate this issue into our planning," said the city attorney, Tom Evashevski, which led the committee to

include the matter in the master plan public hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Another issue discussed was that of tents and sun canopies.

City Engineer and Zoning Administrator Dennis Dombroski said that he has had several complaints of tents and other similar structures, which are apparently for seasonal use, which are being put up without any permits.

The zoning ordinance defines tents as a structure and a zoning permit is required before one can be put up, Mr. Evashevski.

"Nobody's picking on the kids camping in the backyard," Mr. Dombroski was quick to explain.