The Temple Zoning Board of Adjustment provided Stepping Stones Farm and Event Center owner Isabella “Boo” Martin with further guidelines to meet in order for her application for a special zoning exception to be accepted.
The ZBA continued its hearing on the case Tuesday night, in which the board told Martin that further information would be required to move forward with the case, after Martin and her associates presented updates to the board on their current attempts to comply with zoning ordinances and abutter complaints.
The information required of Martin includes properly-measured distances between buildings on the property, distances between parking lots and the property line, and the distance between the Stepping Stones homestead and Bill Ezell’s abutting property. Confirmation was also requested on the property’s compliance with Dark Sky and noise-level ordinances. Additionally, board Vice-Chair Deb Harling clarified with Martin that an updated plan on Martin’s scope of business would be required.
Martin will also potentially be required to submit applications for variances due to the spacing of buildings on the property, as there are two separate lots in question and the setbacks for commercial enterprises are not currently met. Another variance may also be required due to the amount of driveways on the property, but Martin asserted that the driveways were required by the Fire Department – the board stated that Martin must double-check this issue and submit a variance as necessary.
Once this work has been completed by Martin, the board will continue the hearing in September to potentially make a decision in the case.
“Part of what this board needs to do is make a decision based on town zoning and the master plan,” said ZBA member Allan Pickman, “and yet at the same time allow Boo to run a business.”
Part of this, Pickman said, might include a decision limiting what events Martin will be permitted to host.
Abutters to the Martin property expressed continued concern with the handling of the case, and requested more transparency from Martin on her business plan and efforts she has put into alleviate noise-level complaints in particular. Some abutters expressed skepticism that Martin and her associates have done all they could to comply with ordinances.
Martin stated that she was appreciative of the ZBA’s guidance on what she should do next. “Honestly, I have loved this meeting,” she said. “You have given me marching orders.”
“Let me get to work on this,” Martin added.
The ZBA also used the meeting as an opportunity to elect officers, including electing Deb Harling as Vice-Chair. Bill Ezell, who recused himself from the Stepping Stones case as an abutter, was elected as board chair over his own objections.
The hearing will be continued on Sept. 30 in the town hall at 6 p.m.