Final plans to be reviewed in July
Town of Washington officials held a public hearing Monday to hear what townsfolk thought about possible changes to the bed and breakfast ordinance, allowing for some establishments to host as many as eight more guests.
But before the hearing, the Planning Commission and Town Council went into closed session. Afterwards, there was a meeting by the Planning Commission, another jointly by the Town Council and Planning Commission and in total, off and on, three opportunities for the public to speak if one were counting.
In the end, after five residents and business owners spoke, the council moved to tentatively approve an amendment that will expand the number of rooms allowed for some bed and breakfasts. The final copy will be reviewed and voted on at the council’s July meeting.
The amendments would create two definitions of bed and breakfast: “Type 1” B&Bs will be limited to five rooms and 10 guests at one time, as outlined in the current ordinance. “Type 2” B&Bs will be allowed up to nine rooms and 18 guests at one time and must be zoned as village mixed use.
Neighbors of the Foster Harris House on Main Street, which is applying for three more rooms bringing its total capacity from five to eight rooms, stood to voice concerns during public comment. The B&B recently changed ownership.
The property is zoned residential, so if the amendments are approved, the Foster Harris House will need to apply for a change of zoning to use the additional rooms.
Dee Akre, a neighbor who lives at Mt. Prospect next door, said the past two owners of the Foster Harris House have been “delightful” and there had been no issues, and her only concern is that the noise level will increase on busy weekends.
“With more people, does that bring more noise?” Akre said. “We’re in a part of town that’s quiet mostly, so that’s my only concern.”
Nancy Buntin, who lives on the other side of the Foster Harris House, said when the previous owners tried to host wedding parties there, she had several issues with rowdy guests.
“It’s difficult. I don’t want to restrain trade, but I’m getting old and I like peace,” Buntin said.
Owner Evan Addams, who recently purchased the Foster Harris House with his wife, Bethany, thanked the neighbors for their feedback, and said he wants to do what is best for the community as a whole, and not disrupt their peace.
“Our intent is to utilize a couple of [existing] rooms…that have sat empty,” Addams said. “What’s good for the community and neighborhood is good for everything.”
Former Mayor John Fox Sullivan said that he is wary the new amendments may allow some B&Bs to turn into “small hotels” in solely residential areas, and that the specifics of zoning should be carefully considered to prevent this.
“There’s a difference between, let’s say eight to 10 people…using that, to 15 or 16, max 18–that’s a big change, and I think it’s something that you should consider very seriously,” Sullivan said.
Jim Abdo, who owns the White Moose Inn on Main Street, spoke briefly to thank Zoning Administrator Steve Gyurisin for his work on the ordinance changes which support property owners in town.
“I just want to commend the zoning administrator for creating a step in the right direction…it provides a level of certainty for future landowners,” Abdo said.
Planning Commision Chair Caroline Anstey made a proposal to the council, recommending that Gyurisin and town lawyer Martin Crim convene to lay out the amendments in a final form, which would restrict type two B&Bs to village mixed use zoning, no expansion of existing footprints, and B&Bs that already exist in residentially-zoned areas would only be considered for type one zoning.
Mayor Joe Whited, who attended the joint meeting in person, agreed with the recommendations made by the commission, and moved to accept the amendments, pending a brief review of the final documents at the July meeting.
“I don’t think we need to wait for them to pretty up the language in July if we agree,” Whited said.
If the amendments to the ordinance are approved, existing B&Bs that wish to expand but are not zoned as mixed use would still need to gain permission from the town to change zoning specifications or expand their existing footprints.
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