Planning Commission approves sale of town land beneath 203 Second Avenue

The Washington Grove Planning Commission on Feb. 4 approved an application by resident Eva Polston to purchase the town-owned strip beneath her porch at 203 Second Avenue under Ordinance 2018-02. The motion, moved by Chair Georgette Cole and seconded by Peter Nagrod, passed unanimously, 5-0.

The commission said its review of Polston’s plat and application led it to three findings: the sale would not create an additional buildable lot; the parcel does not serve a present or foreseeable public use; and the documents submitted include the parcel’s dimensions and note the structure’s current non-compliance, information the commission said could be useful if a future building permit is sought and the Historic Preservation Commission must evaluate impacts. The Planning Commission recorded those three determinations as part of its approval.

Under Ordinance 2018-02, the town may authorize sale of land occupied in part by main buildings originally built on town land; the commission cited that ordinance in its motion but did not record further conditions in the minutes. The Chair said she will send a memo with the decision to the Town Council as the next procedural step.