Blakeman Back to DRB
To Appeal Conditions
By M. D. Drysdale

Kevin Blakeman is going back to the Randolph Development Review Board (DRB), asking for reconsideration of some of the conditions the DRB placed on a permit for a nine-unit apartment building on Sunset Hill Road.

Blakeman was granted the permit about two weeks ago. The DRB had twice turned him down, but the second denial was repudiated by the Vermont Environmental Court, which remanded it to the DRB.

At that point the DRB had another meeting—though not a new hearing—and agreed 6-0 that Blakeman could have the permit, though the project has been controversial with some neighbors.

At that meeting, however, the board attached several conditions, which Blakeman thinks are onerous and unnecessary.

One condition, for instance, requires that the condominium owner mow the grass only on a 20-foot strip part of the lawn on the east side of the building, apparently to cut down on the tenants’ use of that building. That, Blakeman said, will be unsightly and create a brushy home for mice, ticks and wild chervil.

Another bans any outdoor lighting on the east side, even though there will be back-door entrances there. Shielded lighting should be provided for safety’s sake, Blakeman said.

A third requirement is that the driveway along the front of the building should be moved 10 feet closer to the building, from 40 feet to 30 feet. Blake pointed out that that requirement has the effect of reducing everybody’s front lawn by 25%. Further, he said, that placement of the driveway had been approved earlier by the DRB.

The agenda for the meeting earlier this month, at which the DRB approved the permit, did not notify the public, press or Blakeman that the controversial issue was to be taken up. Discussion of the permit was held in private "deliberative" session.

Thus, Blakeman had no way of responding at that time to the conditions imposed by the board. It’s a chance he would like to have.