[MassHistPres] Farmstand in the LHD

[Tucker, Jonathan]

Methuen's zoning does appear to require a permit from the Building
Commissioner for either a roadside stand or a seasonal sale (Sections
V-N, 2. and 3., pp. 45-46), but if the applicant meets certain
standards, the permit has to be granted.  If the LHD is in an area where
open air markets or farm stand sales involving temporary structures have
historically occurred, then there would be no reason for the LHD Rules &
Regulations to address the issue.  If they were proposing a permanent
structure that they only intended to use seasonally, then I suspect your
regulations would be able to address whatever legitimate LHD issues
arose.

I suspect that any complaints you may subsequently receive will be more
about disagreeing with the flexibility of your zoning than about impacts
on historical resources.

Good Luck,

Jonathan Tucker
Planning Director
Amherst Planning Department
4 Boltwood Avenue, Town Hall
Amherst, MA  01002
(413) 259-3040
tuckerj at amherstma.gov   


-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Reich, Alene
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 2:58 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Farmstand in the LHD

Hi Everyone,

A question to the masses- and, of course, I am trying to solve this
problem before the end of business today.

We have had a request to put a farm stand in the LHD.  It would be a
tent, placed for the rest of the season on a vacant lot.  It seems that
they plan to use it daily, not just as a special event farmers' market.
The Building Dept. said they don't need a permit and I am still waiting
to see if they need a license.

The first impulse was to say "Sure!  Great!" but the fact that we have
nothing in the Rules and Regs even remotely pertinent to this I am
second guessing that impulse.  

Any thoughts?

Alene

Alene Reich

Historic Planner, City of Methuen
Searles Building
41 Pleasant St, Suite 217
Methuen, MA 01844

Tel: (978) 983-8564
Fax: (978) 983-8976

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