China Planning Board Tables Tower Application, Sets October 13 Hearings

The China Planning Board tabled a conditional use application for a 195-foot communications tower on Department Hill Road until its October 13 meeting, after members said they had not had time to review the applicant's responses. The board also set October 13 public hearings for a part-time mechanics garage on Virgo Road and a four-lot subdivision off Danforth and Pleasant View Ridge Road, and heard a resident's request that the town adopt a state food sovereignty ordinance.

Key points

• The board voted to accept two six-hour balloon test days for the Harmony Towers project instead of the 48 hours written in the ordinance, with Tony Wall making the motion.
• The board tabled the tower's conditional use application to October 13 because members had just received the responses and had not reviewed them.
• A resident who lives next to the proposed tower site said he had no problem with it.
• The board found the application complete for a part-time mechanics garage at 238 Virgo Road and voted to hold a public hearing on October 13, with the chair citing traffic concerns as a reason to let neighbors weigh in.
• The board found the application complete for a four-lot subdivision on Danforth and Pleasant View Ridge Road and voted to hold a public hearing on October 13.
• Resident Adam Jendro asked the board to pursue a food sovereignty ordinance allowing farmers to sell goods directly to consumers; the chair said the board would discuss it but noted the select board may be the more appropriate body.

Next steps

• The board will review the tower applicant's conditional use responses and hold the public hearing and criteria review on October 13.
• Public hearings for the Virgo Road garage and the four-lot subdivision are scheduled for October 13.
• The code enforcement officer will send meeting attachments to board members and the clerk with the agenda.
• The board will discuss the food sovereignty proposal at a future meeting and may refer Jendro to the select board.

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