HomeMy WebLinkAbout5013 22 Whites Path Decision TC 05.17.23FILED WITH TOWN CLERK:
PETITION NO:
HEARING DATE:
PETITIONER:
TOWN OF YARMOUTH
BOARD OF APPEALS
DECISION
May 17, 2023
5013
April 27, 2023
22 Whites Path, LLC
PROPERTY: 22 Whites Path, South Yarmouth, MA
Map 97, Parcel 13
Zoning District: B-1 and APD
Title: Book 35557, Page 135
MEMBERS PRESENT AND VOTING: Chairman Steven DeYoung, Dick Martin, Jay Fraprie,
John Mantoni and Scan Igoe
Notice of the hearing has been given by sending notice thereof to the Petitioner and all those owners
of property as required by law, and to the public by posting notice of the hearing and publishing in
The Cape Cod Times, the hearing opened and held on the date stated above.
The Petitioner seeks a Special Permit per § 104.3.2(4) and/or Variance from §202.5 for a D3 use
in the B-1 zoning district for a Special Trade Contractor Yard.
The Property is located in the B-1 Zoning District and the Aquifer Protection District, and is
improved with a two-story commercial structure constructed in approximately 1975, on a lot
containing 26,136 square feet of area. The last tenant of the property was Intercity Alarm, which
occupied the property since 1976 until mid-2022. From the time that Intercity Alarm took
occupancy until now, the building has undergone a number of changes. In 1984, this Board
granted relief to allow for the addition of approximately 1,000 square feet of area and to add 4
covered parking spaces. (Decision 2051). In 1987, relief was granted to Intercity Alarm to build
a second -floor addition, having another 1,300 square feet (Decision 2472). In the course of that
application, the Building Commissioner determined that the use being made of the Property was
pre-existing and non -conforming.
Over the years, a number of other changes were made in accordance with validly issued building
permits and based on a number of determinations made by the Building Commissioner. In 1991,
two underground gasoline tanks, with a capacity of 2,000 gallons, were removed from the
property pursuant to Permit 91-06. The application included a recitation that the use of the
property included retail sales. In 2010, 2 non-structural walls and raised floor were removed
pursuant to Building Permit B-11-639. In 2011, the Building Commissioner approved a Zoning
Determination for a Business Certificate Application, and classified the use being made of this
property as "Miscellaneous Business", which is currently a K1 I use under Zoning Bylaw Section
202.5. That use is permitted in the B I Zoning District.
During its tenure at the Property, Intercity Alarm conducted the following activities — office uses,
including the remote monitoring of customer alarm systems, storage of alarm systems,
components, and electronics, and retail sales of batteries, smoke and carbon detectors, and
keypads. Service vehicles were typically dispatched to customer homes for installations, repairs,
and service of alarm systems.
There is no proposal to change any part of the structure at this time, as this request for relief
pertains solely to the use of the property. The tenant which will occupy the building, Coastal
Plumbing and Heating, LLC (Coastal), is a heating, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning and
ventilation company which will continue to use the property in primarily the same manner as
Intercity Alarm. In addition to office uses, which are permitted in this zoning district, all work
will be done at each customer's location, with service technicians picking up stored systems and
components at the property, and delivered and installed elsewhere. Limited retail sales of
plumbing, electric and retail fixtures will continue. Being located in the Aquifer Protection
District, a waiver from the Board of Health was secured for the reason that not more than
household quantities of hazardous materials will be kept on site. As such, zoning relief pursuant
to Bylaw Section 406 is neither requested nor needed. The relief tonight deals only with the
proposed use of the property, which the Building Commissioner has determined to be a D3 use, a
Special Trade Contractor's Yard, which would require a Variance in the B I Zoning District. In
the alternative, and pursuant to Bylaw Section 104.3.2 (4), this Board can determine that the
lawfully pre-existing non -conforming uses made by Intercity Alarm may be changed or
extended, and issue a Special Permit.
It is Petitioner's position that the uses made of the Property by Intercity Alarm are identical to
the proposed uses by applicant's lessee. The only difference is the type of product and service
being provided off -site. Second, prior Building officials have already determined that the prior
uses were lawfully pre-existing non -conforming. Third, a different Building official determined
that the use made by Intercity Alarm was a "Miscellaneous Business", which is not a lawfully
pre- existing non -conforming use, but rather, an allowed use in the B I Zoning District. Despite
this inconsistency in classification with the current determination, the Board was inclined to
provide relief pursuant to Zoning Bylaw Section 104.3.2(4) for the reason that the use of the
property by Intercity Alarm was legal pre-existing non -conforming and that the change or
extension of that use by Coastal will not be substantially more non -conforming and will not be
substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood, zoning district or Town than is the existing
non -conforming use. However, based on the nebulous definition of a "Special Trade Contractors
Yard", and the potential businesses which could one day operate from this location, the Board
was inclined to condition any relief upon the continued use as defined above, and that any
variation of that use would require further relief from this Board.
Accordingly, a motion was made by Mr. Igoe, seconded by Mr. Fraprie, to grant the request for
the Special Permit pursuant to Zoning Bylaw Section 104.3.2(4), as requested, but with the
condition that any change of use from that proposed by the applicant, whether by this petitioner
or future owners or occupants, must be presented and approved by the Zoning Board Appeals.
The members voted as follows:
Steven DeYoung -
Aye
Sean Igoe -
Aye
Dick Martin -
Aye
Jay Fraprie -
Aye
John Mantoni -
Aye
A motion was made by the petitioner to withdraw any and all relief requested for a Variance,
without prejudice. The Board voted unanimously in favor of this motion.
No permit shall issue until 20 days from the filing of this decision with the Town Clerk. Appeals
from this decision shall be made pursuant to MGL c40A section 17 and must be filed within 20
days after filing of this notice/decision with the Town Clerk. Unless otherwise provided herein,
the Special Permit shall lapse if a substantial use thereof has not begun within 24 months. (See
bylaw § 103.2.5, MGL c40A §9)
Steven DcYoung, Chairman
CERTIFICATION OF TOWN CLERK
I, Mary A. Maslowski, Town Clerk, Town of Yarmouth, do hereby certify that 20 days have
elapsed since the filing with me of the above Board of Appeals Decision #5013 that no notice of
appeal of said decision has been filed with me, or, if such appeal has been filed it has been
dismissed or denied. All appeals have been exhausted.
Mary A. Maslowski