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Link Name:	Red Lion Inn Menu Boards Appeal - Continuation	Description:	
Subject/Title:	November 8, 2006	Subtitle:	
Keywords:		Review on:	
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TOWN OF STOCKBRIDGE
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

MEETING MINUTES FOR: Thursday, November 8, 2006

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Linda Day, Patricia Flinn (clerk),
 James Murray, Thomas Schuler, and Jack Spencer (chair)


ROARING LLC (RED LION INN)
MENU BOARDS APPEAL - CONTINUATION

Following a site visit to the Red Lion Inn at 4:30pm, Chair Jack Spencer opened the hearing continuation at 5:06pm at the Stockbridge Town Hall.  He read the text of the notice which had been duly posted.

The only attendee of interest was Jim Hunt, Maintenance Manager of the Red Lion Inn.

Member Jim Murray started by citing what he thought were critical factors:
"	It would be inappropriate to have the menus flat against the porch wall - they would not be close and they would look terrible.
"	The total square footage of the four proposed signs is less than the old, so it would be less non-conforming.
"	The new placement would get people off the street sidewalk, so in a stretch it could be considered a safety improvement.
Jim then made a motion to grant the variance.  Member Tom Schuler thought the new boards would be the best way to advertise, that it would be a substantial hardship to enforce the bylaws, and agreed to the variance.

Pat Flinn pointed out that the just-approved Courtyard arch contained wording and thus constituted a sign, so the addition of the Courtyard Menu board means a variance would be needed for the Courtyard only for number in addition to placement.

Summary of findings:
"	Hardship if the bylaw is enforced - It would be impractical and inconvenient to force customers to go up onto the porch to view menus on the porch wall.
"	There is no harm to the public good
"	Zoning is not nullified

Chair Jack Spencer polled the five members present.  The vote was unanimous:  five approvals, no disapprovals.  All the requirements set forth in G.L., SH 40A, SEC. 10 were satisfied.  The variance was granted.

Chair Spencer closed the hearing at 5:20pm.

							Respectfully submitted,
							Patricia E. Flinn
							Clerk