Board of Appeals 02/11/2026

(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

A porch that clips the setback, a business you can’t read from the road, and an estate lot waiting on a street the town hasn’t accepted yet—this meeting brings zoning out of the abstract and into everyday trade-offs. We walk you through three variance requests and show how we test each one against the letter and spirit of the bylaw, neighbor feedback, and what actually works on the ground.

First, we unpack an estate lot that meets area and frontage but sits on a subdivision road still pending town acceptance. You’ll hear why timing and layout can create genuine hardship, how variances let sensible projects proceed without undermining the code, and what conditions keep things accountable. Then we turn to signage, starting with a service business set hundreds of feet back from the street. The ask: slightly larger letters for real-world legibility. We dig into illumination, materials, scale, and the abutter’s take on sight-lines and impact, and we explain why measured relief can serve both business needs and neighborhood character.

The most delicate moment comes with a fully built home whose front porch nudged into the setback because porch footings were missed on the plan. We talk through responsibility, documentation, and proportional response: when does a small dimensional error merit flexibility, and how do we safeguard precedent while avoiding wasteful tear-backs? Rounding out the night, Walmart presents a rebrand-driven sign package with clearer entrance labels for Grocery, Pharmacy, Vision, and more. We explore how intermittent visibility and customer way finding factor into total sign area decisions, why most auxiliary signs remain non-illuminated, and how refacing a pylon preserves scale.

If you’ve ever wondered how zoning boards decide what counts as “reasonable relief,” this conversation opens the black box. You’ll leave with a sharper sense of how bylaws, site conditions, and public input come together—case by case, vote by vote. Enjoy the breakdown, and if this helped demystify local land-use decisions, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave us a review so more listeners can find it.

Transcript

Opening And Case Overview

SPEAKER_05 0:27

To my right is Rob Costa. To my left is Charles Carey and Peter Schondick, the board chair. The reign of the board of appeal to hold a public hearing on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. It's second hand at Radium Veterans Momortown Hall, 558 South Main Street. Consider petition number 1066. Thomas P. Kind, trustee, clubs, realty trust, so please can ask. Request for a variance from the reign. Estate lots to allow an state law subject to the issuance by the reign of the planning board of the required special program without having front entirely public land as required by section 350-6.13-5. Locus property is zero screw street. FKA Austin Court in West Pine Estates. FKA Waylor Estates. Copy of the plan and application that you viewed in full at the Board of Appeals office or town clerk's office every town hall, during usual step of business hours. And then we did have an abutters list by Jessica Trassi.

Estate Lot Variance On Private Road

SPEAKER_06 2:18

For the record, Evan Watson with W engineering applicant all the time. Very good. Yes, so uh as you just uh stated there, that this is very similar to the uh parcel made we heard last week. Um there's a little we we intended to have them heard at the same time to or make some duplication of uh presentation there, but there was a little snap with uh some of the things getting in on the agenda. So um but basically what we're looking for is when Lyola Estates was developed, um, there was some extra land left at the end, and we were able to provide 50 feet of frontage on the subdivision road, which is not on the spruce stream, and there is adequate uh frontage area with etc. to comply with the state lot bylaw. However, in the bylaw, it requires that a state law must be on the town road. So the idea here would be to obtain a variance to allow it to be on this road before it was accepted by the town. That way the lots can be developed while the road is still under development, and then we wouldn't have to bring things over the road immediately after it's completed. So any questions of the board I have to discuss.

SPEAKER_03 4:30

I don't have any concerns.

SPEAKER_05 4:34

Um section here, up one, and the rest is right one.

SPEAKER_06 4:39

Yes, as far as we could tell, we didn't um there might be some islands here and there outside of that. But that's the area of consideration which we have to develop. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 4:55

Well, I mean this would be in the water.

SPEAKER_06 5:02

Yeah, the requirement for the square is that it touches the front setback line, so that's why it's pushed um up to there, but we have uh 415,000 outlets with the end.

SPEAKER_05 5:28

Are there any other members of the audience who they call us?

SPEAKER_03 5:50

I don't have any concerns. Um this is in my uh class meetings.

SPEAKER_05 6:03

Yeah, this one row should be accepted. Yeah, I'll sorry. It's gonna prove this noise stipulation, and like you said, you want to have all the last number of rows except it's worth it's all I think.

unknown 7:02

I think there's three conditions A and S would have the same conditions for you very much. Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 7:44

Dominic Record Record Ford Ranger Master Crusher variant to Radium, zoning bylaws section 350-6.6 signs. One wall-ulted sign to allow one set of internally illuminated letters, elite commercial service at 2 feet by 33 feet 9 and 78 inches, at 36 New State Highway, assessment app 14 watch two, grain and house. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should attend the hearing. Copy of the plan and application may be used in full at the Board of Appeals office or town commerce office at Radium Town Hall during usual scheduled business hours. We do uh sign by Jessica. So uh you're representing our rich pretorius. All right, uh just uh swear you went to solve me swear that testimony you're about to give this board shall be the truth, all the truth, tell me like the truth shall help me.

Board Questions And Audience Input

SPEAKER_02 8:56

Okay, thanks. Uh Rich Pretorius, I think, mostly well. Yeah, burger board. Um seeking relief from the 15-foot um of signs due to the uh the building is uh four long so 270 feet back from the street. Uh we're seeking two-foot letters that spill up the commercial service. Um the sign was shrunk down a 15-foot long, but let's be 11 inches tall.

unknown 9:35

You'll be able to read it from the street.

SPEAKER_02 9:37

The building itself is 275 feet wide. Um all the other side that you have performs to the um bylaws and just this the set of words.

SPEAKER_05 9:55

So the um like the Greco is the same, so it's gonna be the same size as the rest of the lettering on the sides.

SPEAKER_02 10:04

Yes, you already just this size is spelled out. Yeah, it's it's wordy, so uh lays out wider.

SPEAKER_03 10:21

Yeah, I think for the size of the building, um, it would make sense.

SPEAKER_05 10:27

Yeah, I'm I'm fine. It's not like it's gonna be putting lighting anything. Yeah, is it it's not uh is it accolade or is it just it's it's it's a legit okay. Um yeah, we're just gonna step on your voice. That's why it's funny. Anyone in the audience quite the speaker? Swear you wouldn't. I live right behind the I need to swear you. Sorry. You solemnly swear that the testimony is anyone else gonna give testimony to the sweet on it. Um you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give this board shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And that's a name of that.

SPEAKER_04 11:23

Can you just take your address for recording? 74 South Street West.

unknown 11:27

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 11:28

But uh also point up that the building is high, but it's above the street.

Decision And Conditions For Estate Lot

Sign Variance For Elite Commercial Service

SPEAKER_05 11:32

And my house, but it also kind of I have no problem with the side. Yeah. Thank you. Anyone else or against okay? All right, uh, I'm gonna close the meeting at 711 to go into executive session. All may remain while the board deliberates, but number may speak. Yeah, I think it's basically there was a less work to go to the question. So I'll make a motion to approve the uh check, but yeah. Second. Um in favor? Aye. Aye, yeah. Okay, uh, I'll call the meeting back to order at 712. Um approved. Um at this time, uh anyone that anyone have any objections that the decision may file appeals for this period court and file the appeal with the town clerk within 20 days of the filing of the court's decision with the town clerk. Thank you. Radium bedroom tomorrow, 558 sub Main Street District 1068. Proper that one manager went to five and state, that'll be that. Request for appearance from the range of 25 section 350-5.1 requirements set back to allow a 21 square foot findable portion of the front portion attached to the house to extend it to the 45 foot.2 feet at the most extreme focus property is 15 street, FKA Austin Court, assessment map 13, 55-26. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter to attend the hearing? Copy of the plan and application may be viewed in full at the Board of Appeals office or town clerk's office at Greenham Town Hall during jurisdiction business hours. Greenham Board of Appeals, Alberana chair. All the intent to give testimony to each rights with the board against. Um you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give this board shall be the truth, the whole truth. Oh, but and then we did have a certified battle this time by Jessica.

SPEAKER_01 15:13

Um weak as to get you uh representing the uh applicant owner um West Minus State's LLC. Um I'm uh I'm embarrassed. We've uh we built over 100 homes in uh right now, and uh this is the uh first time we've uh made this kind of an error. Um the uh as you can see on the plan uh set out back far enough. Um it's a lot that drops off significantly in the back, so we were holding it tight to the to the front line, um but uh you know just clearly overlooked the uh orientation of the uh porch and angular feature against that line, uh unfortunately clipped the uh setback line. The front porch is uh an important feature to the uh people that we're selling the home to. Um so they uh talk about different alternatives to them, and they desperately would like to keep the front porch as a feature of the house. Um so we know what to do, so this would be the only uh relief uh footing. Yeah. So so you were actually you were actually supposed they were actually supposed to close um earlier this month.

SPEAKER_05 16:46

So is that what Asbill came up in the so the so the so the porch everything's up?

SPEAKER_01 16:51

Everything the fully built the house is a hundred percent complete. Just not sold out. It was the it you you're it was the it was the final as built plan that uh that triggered it. Because of course the porch wouldn't have shown it off the as bill plan for the foundation, but then when we at the at the end, when we did the final as built plan, that's when it was revealed. Yeah.

unknown 17:14

Questions?

SPEAKER_05 17:16

No. Well, so you you measured to the corner of a house and okay? Well not forget to.

SPEAKER_01 17:28

No, the he it was the the porch was entirely overlooked. I think part of it was we assumed that our engineer had located an apartment on the house, and Evan gave me permission to throw him under the bus. So um he uh you know it was he had missed the uh he he he picked up the foundation when he did his site plan, but he overlooked, we show when we what we send him, we show him the um sonotubes for the porch, and he entirely missed that. So he thought of he assumed it was just a set of stairs coming off and not not the porch. So that's actually what what caused the uh the uh violation.

SPEAKER_05 18:17

Anyone else in favor of the guests like to speak?

unknown 18:23

Okay.

Public Comment And Approval

SPEAKER_05 18:25

All right. Um to uh close the public hearing at 718. Um maybe uh deliberates but I'm gonna speak. I'm okay with any mistakes happen. I don't think it's gonna affect any uh close. Yeah, it's not like it's um 50 feet or um like we were talking about we should set something up where if something like this happens, there's not gonna find as far as we can only thousand dollars a square foot, whatever it's over driving. It doesn't happen a lot, but I need some random okay. I'll make a motion to approve um all in favor. Just don't want to happen again.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

Uh definitely trying to make sure that's avoided. There's a lot of houses left to go in. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 19:37

So we open the meeting at 7.19. Um we approve the uh relief. And um anyone having objections to the decision may file appeals to the Superior Court and file that appeal to the town clerk within 20 days of the file of the board's decision with the town clerk. So having thank you, close on the house. Thank you.

unknown 20:07

All right.

Front Porch Setback Variance

SPEAKER_05 20:28

Rogers AR on behalf of Walmart. Request of variance, reign zoning bylaws, section 350-6.6 signs. One wall mounted sign to allow the following two signs at Walmart 160 Broadway, Sessum F7, Law 13, Ranium, Walmart sign of 138.97 square feet area and 27 foot 2 and 8 inch length. And home and fashion sign at 27 foot 2 and 38 inches length, both exceeding the 120 square foot and 15 foot length. And it varying from section 350-6.6, one to allow total wall volunteer building signage of 443.11 square feet in an area exceeding to be allowed 180 square foot on wall volunteer signs and 15% coverage of the wall on which model. Anyone wishing to be heard of this matter to attend a hearing? A copy of the plan application may be viewed in full at the Board of Appeals office or town clerk's office at Rainham Town Hall during scheduled business office. Rainham Board of Appeals, Calvarona Chair. Uh you know, this is the first time. Yes, and then Jessica Garsius I mean. Anybody wishing to give the testimony for you, please guys, whether before or against.

SPEAKER_00 22:03

I do. My name is Jeremy Davis. I work with PEU Architecture and Engineering. Our client is Walmart, and we're receiving some relief for the exterior signs being proposed for the remodel located at 160 Broadway. There is an existing variance allowing for the current side package. Currently there's a total of 425.81 square feet. The whole side package totals for 443.11 square feet. So it's what we're asking for is you know 17 square feet more than what's currently on the building. A lot of signs are going to be changed from what is seeing on the building. So the Walmart and the Spark logo are going to be separated and moved apart. The rest of the signs are more of a instead of attention grabbing, they're more of direct read. What they do is there's a sign pretty much designated for each entrance. So there's outdoor by the outdoor entrance, home and fashion, which is now home and pharmacy. Pharmacy will get its own little sign as well as vision. But in order to direct customers effectively, all those modalities aren't actually in that entrance. So if you wanted the vision center, you go into that entrance. Then there's the grocery sign, and then there's the recycle sign over the entrance to the recycle center. And it does have limited visibility. You can see the store, then it's blocked, it's blocked, you can see it, then it's blocked again, and then you're down past the store itself. The rest of the signs are plastic stud mounted, non-lit. So pretty much what they have on the building right now. So this is part of Walmart's rebrand. Just to keep us on our toes, I guess. But the color of the building is large and remaining the same except for the painted areas will be painted the uh the dark gray color, and the uh um accent areas uh will be painted the uh uh the new Walmart blue.

SPEAKER_05 25:45

Um I just want to be at the sign, is this sign going up here in the street?

Error Explained And Board Deliberation

SPEAKER_00 25:52

Oh, that's the existing sign. Okay. So it's gonna be refaced. So we're going to give it fresh color paint um and then take the faces off, put new faces on. Okay. Um, and those structure change to this sign catheter height of the of the bowl.

SPEAKER_05 26:09

All right, I wasn't sure if you were going to add the signal.

SPEAKER_00 26:12

No, no, that's pre-existing and give it uh fresh bankover. No other questions?

SPEAKER_05 26:25

Anyone for or against? Steve None. Uh I'm gonna declare the meeting closed at 726. Uh all may remain while the board deliberates, but none of them may speak. I don't have any issues. Some of the old redoing.

SPEAKER_03 26:50

Yeah, they're uh actually downsizing some of the current existing sites. Yeah. Um it's gonna help with the flow of the foot traffic. Uh motion to accept the um proposal as uh as state and then I said uh the variance for the proposed signs, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 27:22

Second, second, all agreement? We open the meeting at 77.

unknown 27:30

Uh thank you very much. Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 27:34

It's been approved, and then uh anyone having objections to the decision, may file appeals to the Superior Court, file that appeal with the town court within 20 days of the filing of the court's decision with the town court.

SPEAKER_01 27:50

Did you have a second? Yeah, I actually was a scheduling conflict for Gregor Forder Rainham last minute I was asked to appear.

SPEAKER_03 27:56

Um I think it's gonna be pretty quickly. So we are approved the sign? Yeah, uh I was wondering if that happened at the class. Yeah, we do. I don't want to interrupt. Were you for yet? Well, I work for Gregor Forder Random, so I was on behalf of them, I was to hear if there's any questions.

SPEAKER_00 28:15

I don't want to interrupt other questions. I do know. Um so after the uh 20-day um appeal period, uh then would I have to create a pie for the uh uh assigned permit?

SPEAKER_05 28:46

So you'll take Rela, then we're gonna record the register GD, take that, put the file and anything to the bullet department, and then we'll issue a little bit.

Approval And Appeal Window

SPEAKER_00 28:57

Oh, okay. I mean I'll have to do this remotely or give it to the uh assignment stall review because I'm flying back to Arkansas.

SPEAKER_01 29:04

Yeah.

unknown 29:05

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 29:06

You're gonna apply for the dealer permit online.

SPEAKER_00 29:10

And that's after the 20-day calling off period, right? Yeah, okay. Yeah. Fair enough. Thank you very much. No problem.

SPEAKER_05 29:19

All right, so we have uh minutes from J 14th.

SPEAKER_04 29:26

Um we make a motion to approve January 14th minutes for the two position positions. Second. All in favor, aye. Aye. So they're approved. And make a motion to adjourn. Adjourn. Second. All favor? Aye. Aye. Meeting is adjourned at 72.