Neighbors press board over long-running junkyard and tiny-house complaints at waterfront lot

Several residents used the public-comment period to press the board over a long-running nuisance at a property identified as ‘53’ near Penny Lane, saying boats and piled debris remain in and beside the water and raising fears about gasoline and oil reaching private wells. One resident said they had spent money on filtration and asked why abutters were not notified when permits were issued.

“The junkyard is still there — the items have been stacked on top of one another or placed in the water,” a resident said, describing visible piles, unsecured boats and fuel concerns. Board and staff recounted a decade-long pattern of complaint and intermittent compliance, noting that code enforcement has sent multiple letters and that the ordinary process is three letters followed by court action if the property owner does not respond.

Staff clarified that regular building permits historically do not require abutter notification and that some structures on trailers can be registered rather than processed as full building permits if they retain registration. The board said jurisdiction over boats in the water often lies with state agencies (Game Warden, DEP) and that civil or court remedies may be necessary for persistent violations; staff said they would continue enforcement and prepare documentation for potential court action.