Citizen complaints call ordinance enforcement into question

At the Nov. 10 Saratoga Planning Commission meeting several complaints made to Kent Smith, zoning officer, were presented to the commission.

In light of the complaints, Smith asked for direction from the planning commission regarding code enforcement. The general consensus was that Smith should be enforcing the codes that are on the book. “Blanket statement, we need to enforce the ordinances, period,” Chris Shannon, of the planning commission said.

Specific complaints involve fences between industrial sites and residential areas, keeping goats and farm animals in a residential area, skinning animals for taxidermy purposes, firewood advertising and sales in residential areas and whether or not The Yard is actually a retail business.

In regards to a fence around the Overlook subdivision, the mill was supposed to build a fence, but Chris Shannon and Cindy Bloomquist had previously asked for a variance. Another complaint was about Richard Raymer’s porta-potty storage on State Street. Jennifer German’s goats were brought in to question as she has more goats than the applicable ordinances allow and has had them for more than the maximum period allowed by the Future Farmers of America ordinance. Regarding advertising firewood for sale and the storage location of that firewood, the commission noted that a special use permit is necessary for any business with advertising in a residential area. There were concerns voiced to Smith about Trophy Room Taxidermy and where animals are being skinned for the business. The commission stated that taxidermy is not a permitted use in residential areas and the new location of the taxidermy shop is not approved for animal processing.

Smith was advised to put ordinance violators on notice with a letter from the town and those who receive a notice can bring the matter before the zoning commission.

Sarah Hutchins, with Community Builders, Inc. (CBI) reported to the commission that the first community survey for the Saratoga Master Plan has been completed and CBI hopes to release a second survey in the next couple of weeks. According to Hutchins, the next survey will include demographic information in order to gain a better understanding of who is responding to the questions.

Temporary secretary for the planning commission, Susan Lane, has agreed to carry on her duties, but is reserving her decision about becoming the permanent secretary for at least a month.

There was general agreement that the proposed amendment to the retail business district zoning code is to allow property owners the full use of their property. After a lengthy discussion a decision was made to take more time to make sure the wording discussed at the Nov. 10 meeting is clear and has no conflicts with other ordinances.

In a discussion of what happened when the home occupation ordinance was brought before town council on Nov. 3 it was determined that language intended to be included in the ordinance was unintentionally left out. This resulted in objections from two of the planning commission members and the ordinance was sent back for revision. The commission is moving forward with the revisions and will present it to the town council once it has been approved by the town’s attorney.

The next regular meeting of the Saratoga Planning Commission will be at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 8.