| Joanne Cole |
The Planning Board had two agenda items on Tuesday. One was a plan to expand an existing self-storage business at 165 Sabbathday Road. The other was a new house at 300 Intervale Road.
By meeting’s end, New Gloucester Self-Storage had the go-ahead to add three new storage buildings to the three now on its site.
But the board put the brakes on the other application: a request for expedited review of a new single-family house to be located at 300 Interval Road, in the Historic Overlay District. The board concluded that owner Connor Smith’s application was not only not eligible for expedited treatment, but he shouldn’t have received a building permit without first undergoing full site plan review.
Expansion of New Gloucester Self-Storage, 165 Sabbathday Road. Engineer Jeff Allen of A.E. Hodsdon represented New Gloucester Self-Storage, LLC.’s application to add three more storage buildings to the three on the site. The 4.26-acre parcel is at Map 2 Lot 4-D in the Residential C and Groundwater Protection Overlay Districts.
Allen said a prior owner had received Planning Board approval in 2011 for three more structures but never built them. Now the current owners were before the board with an updated application and supporting materials.
The project adds two new buildings behind the existing three and one more along the side, to the right of the driveway on Sabbathday Road. The area will be fenced and have controlled access with a gate, Allen said, elements that weren’t part of the 2011 plan. Lights will be added to the existing units for safety and security, along with lights on the sign out front.
Board members wanted to confirm that the amount of impervious surface—structures, driveways, parking—wouldn’t exceed the limits allowed in the Groundwater Protection Overlay District, where runoff is a particular consideration. Allen said the plan replaces some existing asphalt with grassed areas and the result is impervious area coming in at 29.9 percent, just under the 30 percent allowed with site plan review; it’s a 10 percent limit otherwise.
With more trees to be added as buffers and additional details to come on the driveway design, the board signed off with conditional approval.
New house at 300 Intervale Road in Historic Overlay District. What looked routine on the agenda turned out to be anything but. Applicant Connor Smith had requested expedited review for a three-bedroom home to be built at 300 Intervale Road, Map 7 Lot 49-B in the Village District.
But because the location is also within the Historic Overlay District, Smith’s application must not only undergo full site plan review but also meet design and other criteria for compatibility with area’s historic character, the board told him.
Complicating matters, Smith had already received a building permit in March from then-Code Enforcement Officer Rick Haas. As a result, the Smiths had proceeded with site work and other steps. The foundation is in.
Board member Steve Libby told Smith that in addition to regular site plan review, projects in the Historic Overlay are reviewed by the Historical Society, which then gives an advisory opinion to the Board.
The relevant section of the zoning ordinance not only requires that materials, scale and designs be visually compatible with the area’s historic character but also lot design and siting. The ordinance says no site disturbance shall be done before Planning Board review, and structures shall be located to minimize site disturbance.
Smith acknowledged that the site is in the Historic Overlay but was dismayed to hear about the review – and the prospect of costly delays. “We have the signed building permit already,” Smith said. He said they’d been told by the CEO that they “were good to build” and needed only to get board approval of the front face of the house. Smith and his architect had that brought that drawing with them to the Meetinghouse.
“You got a building permit that you should not have,” Steve Libby said.
Smith asked about the legal ramifications: Would he have to stop work? Tear down the existing work? Pay fines?
Board Chair Doug McAtee apologized for the erroneous information Smith had received and assured him that the board will work closely with him and as quickly as possible. Fellow board members outlined next steps and what’s needed for review, pointing Smith toward applicable sections of the ordinance.
The board encouraged Smith to submit the additional documentation quickly. Assuming the Historical Society can do its review promptly and abutters can be notified in advance, Smith’s application will be back before the board at its May 20 meeting.
It may yet turn out that although Smith’s application didn’t receive official “expedited review,” it will be reviewed expeditiously.
Watch video of the May 6, 2025 Planning Board meeting at this link. Find links to agendas, documents and more on the Planning Board page at this link.
