Planning Board Meeting: May 21, 2025

Attendance

• Board Members present in-person: John Mirick, Corey Burnham-Howard, Ian Catlow, Larry DeBlois, and Scott Peoples
• Board Members present, remote: none
• Other Participation, in person: Ryan O’Meara, Jeff Senechal. Tom Sullivan, and Julian Votrubo
• Other Participation, remote: one resident listened to some of the meeting but did not
  participate

Call to Order

7:30 PM

Review proposed ANR Plan for Bomba property on Westminster Road

Julian Votrubo appeared on behalf of property owner John Bomba on an application for
an ANR endorsement for a plan dated 4/21/25 to subdivide a large parcel at the corner
of Westminster Road and Greene Road into 9 lots, each with at least 225 feet of
frontage and at least two acres. Several of the proposed lots were much larger. He was
unaware that Section XIV.3 of the Princeton Zoning By-Laws limited ANR subdivisions
of large parcels to no more than 4 lots every two years. The Board informally reviewed
with him some of the provisions in Section XIV (Open Space Residential Design) and
pointed out that an OSRD plan would allow by special permit 10 building lots rather than
the ANR 9 building lots, with waiver of various dimensional requirements and at least
50% of the total area protected as common open space. Mr. Votrubo will discuss the
issues with his client. The Board encouraged him to come back for further informal
discussions before making a specific proposal for either a more limited ANR plan or an
OSRD plan.

Public Hearing on Application for Special Permit for Home Occupation (Short-Term Rentals) at 129 Gleason Road

The public hearing commenced at approximately 7:45 pm. Jeff Senechal (“the
Applicant”) applied for a special permit for a home occupation (short-term rentals)
pursuant to Section XVIII.1.(B)(1). He included a copy of the relevant Assessors’ Map.
The property consists of approximately half an acre with a dwelling. There are three
parking spaces but no garage. The internal arrangement includes separate lofts at
each end of the dwelling. The Applicant’s concept is to use one loft for short-term
rentals, and to have renters use the parking space on the westerly end of the dwelling.
The dwelling has a septic system designed for two bedrooms.

The Applicant seeks a special permit to use one bedroom for short-term rentals. The
renters would share the bathroom and the kitchen. No interior or exterior construction is
planned. No changes in exterior lighting are planned.

The Board reviewed with the Applicant the provisions of Section XVIII.1.(B)(1), including
the limitation of no more than 2 adults in a bedroom, the personal nature of the special
permit, the limitation of renting to transient tenants for terms less than 31 days and for
not more than 60 days in a calendar year, and the requirement for annual permit
renewal.

The Applicant inquired about the possibility of converting a special permit for short-term
rentals into a special permit for a longer-term boarder in the event that a short-term
renter wanted a longer occupancy. The Board advised him that he would need a
separate special permit.

There were no comments from the public.

The public hearing was closed at approximately 8:05 pm. The Board reviewed the
information provided by the Applicant, the provisions of Section XVIII.1.(B)(1), and the
provisions of Section XII (Site Plan Review). The Board concluded that the proposed
use was consistent with Section XVIII.1.(B)(1) and that the applicable site plan criteria
were satisfied.

Motion: To issue a Special Permit for short-term rentals (one bedroom) as a
home occupation and to approve site plan
Motion: Corey Burnham-Howard; second Scott Peoples
Vote: Unanimous

The Chair will draft a decision for review at the June 4, 2025 meeting

Review and Approval of Decision for Special Permit for Home Occupation (Boarding) at 69 Mirick Road

The Board reviewed the draft decision for a home occupation special permit to take in
boarders at 69 Mirick Road and site plan review.

Motion: To approve the Special Permit and Site Plan Review
Motion: Larry DeBlois; second Scott Peoples
Vote: Unanimous

Discussion of Trash Sheds

The Board sees some benefit to allowing trash sheds at the end of driveways with a
reduced setback from the public way. Construction of a shed should be voluntary.
General feeling was that sheds should have a small footprint. John will draft some
language to focus further discussion.

Discussion of Failed Zoning Amendments

At the Annual Town Meeting, the proposed zoning amendments for common driveway
design criteria and floodplains received majority votes, but not two-third majority votes.
The sense of the Board that the Town needs design criteria for new common driveways.
John will revise the draft to exclude any mandatory application of design criteria to
existing common driveways.

The sense of the Board was not to pursue floodplain zoning. John commented that
FEMA has yet to respond to the request to identify any Princeton residents who are in
the subsidized insurance program.

Public Comment

Ryan O’Meara is interested in becoming an alternate member of the Board. John
reported that Ann O’Connor is also interested. The process is for the Board to make
recommendations to the Selectboard which makes the appointments. There is a
volunteer form on the Town website that interested persons need to fill out.

Joint Meeting with ZBA on Thompson Road Setback Variance and Site Plan Review

The applicant did not appear at the May 20, 2025 joint meeting. This has been
rescheduled to June 18 at 7:00 pm. If the ZBA votes to allow the variance, the Planning
Board will conduct a site plan review.

Review and Approve Minutes for May 7, 2025 Meeting

MOTION to approve minutes with clerical correction
Motion: Larry DeBlois; second Corey Burnham-Howard
Vote: unanimous

Next Meeting

June 4, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Meeting adjourned

approximately 8:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted

John Mirick

Documents Reviewed

• Application and proposed ANR plan for Westminster Road
• Application and site plan for special permit (short-term rental) at 129 Gleason Road
• Draft special permit(boarders) and site plan review decision for 69 Mirick Road
• Minutes for 5/7/25 meeting