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On Thursday, the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met to discuss the Firearms Safety Business Use Zoning Bylaw proposed by the Select Board for Annual Town Meeting. The net result was a decision to take a position on the proposed bylaw amendment at Annual Town Meeting. The ZBA will not be supporting the bylaw amendment, but their position was more nuanced than just deciding if they were in support of, or opposed to, the bylaw.
Over the course of the meeting the ZBA members iterated on a position that will focus on the flaws they perceived in the draft and the need for additional work to make the bylaw viable and appropriate in their eyes. Members expressed a desire to make it clear they think it’s good the Town is taking action on this issue, but the current draft needs additional work.
The members raised a variety of concerns about the bylaw, including the fact that the Select Board, rather than the Zoning Board of Appeals, would be the Special Permit Granting Authority for firearms businesses if the bylaw passed. They felt it would be more appropriate for the Zoning Board of Appeals to play that role, and Chair John Riordan repeatedly voiced displeasure that the Select Board did not consult with the Zoning Board of Appeals at all during the development of the bylaw. That sentiment became more pronounced after Select Board Chair Janie Dretler commented to clarify that two members of the Select Board advocated for the board to engage the ZBA, but the Select Board majority declined to do so.
Other concerns included which local authorities should be tasked with enforcement of certain provisions of the bylaw, and the need for further review of the operating requirements, such as insurance minimums and video surveillance, laid out in the bylaw. Member Frank Riepe noted that there’s a section of the bylaw that refers to another section that doesn’t exist in the bylaw draft to demonstrate the need for additional work.
Members considered the possibility of supporting the bylaw and endeavoring to make the amendments later. The idea was that it might be better to have regulations to control firearms businesses in the zoning bylaw, rather than nothing, while those amendments are developed.
Ultimately the board reached a consensus that it was unlikely there would be any appetite to revisit the bylaw again if it were to pass in its current form; making it unlikely, in their estimation, that the amendments they would like to see would be implemented. They acknowledge that there may be some risk of a firearms business opening before the town had regulations in place if it took another year to work on the bylaw. Members felt that risk was relatively low since no firearms business has indicated in interest in opening in Sudbury as far back as any of the members could recall.
Select Board members Charlie Russo and Jennifer Roberts also joined in the discussion to add further context and answer any questions. Following the comments from Russo and Roberts, Chair Riordan asked the board if any members would like to change their position based on what they just heard.
None of the members were swayed and the board held its position.
Chair Riordan was tasked with drafting a statement articulating the board’s position. That statement is expected to be delivered at Annual Town Meeting, which begins on May 6.