The Chelsea DRB considered a conditional-use permit for the build­ing located at 3 Court Street at a No­vember 30, 2011 meeting.

The building was previously owned by Wellspring and operated as a school. Preston Bristow, zoning administrator, issued a permit on September 7 to use the building as a two-family dwelling as a permitted use within the village district.

Margret Loftus, who attended the hearing on behalf of the applicant, explained that the building consists of three units, two with full baths and one with a half bath. Loftus asked the board if it would be pos­sible to rent the third space with a half bath as either an office/profes­sional space or a third apartment. Any use beyond a two-family dwell­ing is a conditional use and require DRB review.

The board noted that an office/ professional space fell under “in­dividual service,” but a third apart­ment would fall under “multi-family housing,” which would require two more off-street parking spaces. Bristow said he had not measured the parking spaces and could not verify that a total of six spots were available. However, the DRB decid­ed the request to use the building for three apartments could not be considered at this time since it was not included in the application.

Judge Joyce McKeeman attended the meeting on behalf of the Orange County Courthouse, which abuts the building on the South side, and shared with the board that the court owns a strip of land between the structure and Court Street and that no recorded right-of-way has been found for the driveway that crosses court property. Loftus and McK­eeman agreed that a formal agree­ment for use of the drive should be worked out. The drive has been used for many years and the DRB determined that 3 Court Street has sufficient access for the purpose of this application.

The DRB unanimously voted to approve a change in use to allow an office/professional space in the structure.