Columbia ZBA unanimously approves variance to site 12-by-20 filtration shed at Horace W. Porter School

The Columbia Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously on July 30 to approve the town’s application to place a 12-by-20 shed 8 feet from the northeastern side-yard property line at Horace W. Porter School to house a permanent water treatment system. The board approved the variance under section 7.7 of the Columbia zoning regulations, adding conditions on setbacks for remaining yards, a maximum wall coverage limit (10%), and a building-height cap not to exceed 35 feet.

In a letter read at the hearing, the town explained the structure is "necessary to accommodate the equipment required to provide a permanent water treatment solution for the school." Town officials argued the shed must sit near the existing well and tank to operate effectively, and that alternatives such as moving lot lines or installing the system inside the school would be impractical because of cost, easements with Eversource and schedule constraints. Mark Walter, the town administrator, told the board: "So we're down to just 1 more month," underscoring the urgency to have filtration working before students return in September.

Board members added a mitigation condition requiring soundproofing "to mitigate any noise from the treatment system," and required that all other building- and planning-related approvals (including Eastern Highlands / EHHD review and a building permit) be obtained before operation. The board chair also reminded the public that the decision will be posted in the newspaper and that a 15-day appeal period follows posting; the record includes a comment that "Mister Joe will also appeal our decision." The motion passed unanimously.

The applicant is the town of Columbia; the property is identified in the record as 22 Schoolhouse Road (Assessor's map 018, Lot 001). The board recorded the hardship basis as the location of the wells and tank, the PFAS contamination of local sources, and the time required to pursue alternative approaches. Additional technical and permitting steps remain before installation and operation can begin.