Commissioners grant gravel waiver for Route 611 boat-storage site; landscaping waiver withdrawn

The Worcester County Planning Commission voted Oct. 1 to recommend approval of a waiver allowing a compacted gravel surface for a proposed 2.5-acre boat-on-trailer storage yard off Route 611 and Cinepuxet Road. Mark Spencer Cropper, the applicant’s attorney, told the commission the site would be used mainly for long-term, weekend storage and estimated roughly 50 typical boats could be stored, and that a compacted stone base would be sufficient for the limited traffic.

Commissioners raised aesthetic concerns about an eight-foot chain-link fence with black privacy slats that the Board of Zoning Appeals had approved, and several members said vegetation is preferable to slats. Commissioner French said a chain-link fence with slats "doesn't fit the neighborhood," citing nearby white vinyl fencing in Mystic Harbor and urging consideration of an alternative material or moving the fence back to allow plantings. The applicant said alternatives would be discussed and agreed to withdraw the landscaping waiver for later reconsideration once staking and right-of-way limits were clear.

Chair opened the motion for the gravel waiver and, after a second and brief discussion about site access and security cameras, the commission approved the waiver by voice vote. The meeting record shows the commission accepted the applicant's testimony that activity would be low and primarily weekly or weekend long-term storage rather than daily turnover.

The commission did not permanently deny the landscaping requirement; instead the applicant withdrew that portion of the request and the commission asked staff to accept a revised plan for later review.