Zoning Board of Appeals

CITY OF EASTHAMPTON ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 50 Payson Avenue, Easthampton, MA 01027 Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 22, 2021 Board ✓ John Atwater * ✓ Lindsie Alterkun ✓ Matthew Waugh Members: ✓ Steven Lytwyn ✓ Anthony Karella * ZBA Chair | Vice-Chair | ~ Associate Board Member (x) present | (-) absent | (L) late City officials: Curtis Wiemann, Assistant Planner Other attendees: Meeting commenced at 6:00pm. Administrative Items  Correspondence/Requests for comment from other boards, committees, officials, etc.  Assistant Planner Curtis Wiemann remarked that following the resignation of Vice-Chair Linda Bush, Associate Member Steven Lytwyn was promoted by appointment by the Mayor to full member effective immediately.  Chair John Atwater inquiried if anyone would be interested in serving as vice-Chair for the ZBA. Lindsie Alterkun volunteered. Chair John Atwater made a motion to appoint Lindsie Alterkun as vice-chair. Steven Lytwyn seconded. All were in favor and the motion passed 5-0.  Public Comments / Public Speak  There were no public comments unrelated to applications before the Board.  Meeting Minutes: None Announcements & Discussion of the Board  Discussion of Public Hearing Procedure  Assistant Planner Curtis Wiemann presented the amended Rules and Regulations, including the following changes: • Standards and procedure for requesting a Peer Review for applications before the ZBA  Chair John Atwater read through the amended Rules and Regulations section by section, soliciting commentary from the Board members. • Chair John Atwater asked about the Secretary role on the Board, the feasibility of time limits for agenda items, and the preferred start time for future meetings. • Matt Waugh asked whether the Board would consider time limits on future meetings or agenda items included on future agendas to ensure timely meetings and respect the volunteer service of the Board members. Chair John Atwater and Vice-Chair Lindsie Alterkun expressed concern that this could necessitate meeting more frequently in order to accommodate applicants. • Matt Waugh expressed concern regarding proposed rules governing meeting conduct, stating that they would serve to stifle dialogue between Board members, and proposed amending the rules to apply only to members of the public. Chair John Atwater discussed his goal to set the rules formally but utilize them only as needed. Steve Lytwyn expressed his belief that the Rules were necessary for Zoom meetings, but much less vital in-person. Vice-Chair Lindsie Alterkun expressed her support for the drafted rules of conduct. 1 of 2 Zoning Board of Appeals Wednesday, September 22, 2021  The Board discussed the straw poll option presented in the Rules and Regulations. Chair John Atwater, Steve Lytwyn and Vice-Chair Lindsie Alterkun expressed support for this concept to forestall discussion and highlight disagreements for future applicants to address in their application so long as care was taken to highlight this as a non-binding vote.  Chair John Atwater proposed that Assistant Planner Curtis Wiemann forward the draft Rules and Regulations for Board members to draft their own additions, and requested that Assistant Planner Curtis Wiemann collect these responses and draft an amended set of Rules and Regulations reflecting these suggestions. Motion to adjourn • Motion by: Anthony Karella • Seconded: Lindsie Alterkun • Further discussion: • Roll Call Vote: In favor Opposed Abstained Absent John Atwater ✓ Matt Waugh ✓ Lindsie Alterkun ✓ Anthony Karella ✓ Steven Lytwyn ✓ • The meeting was adjourned at 7:11pm by a vote of 5 in favor and 0 against. 2 of 2