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Date: 6/21/2023
CHESTER — In addition to budget and spending articles on June 12, Town Meeting voters in Chester also passed a new bylaw to regulate short-term rentals and “glamping,” and force a special election when Select Board seats are vacated in the middle of a term.
Planning Board Chair Elizabeth Massa, said short-term rentals and glamping aren’t currently covered by town bylaws. She said the Planning Board created the bylaw for short-term rentals of 30 days or less with minimal regulations and reasonable oversight. She said any modification requires a special permit.
Glamping is defined as camping in a structure of “high-quality, durable materials,” such as a platform tent, cabin or yurt. The activity would be allowed by right in all zones on parcels of 10 acres or more, and by special permit on smaller parcels. No more than three camp sites per parcel would be allowed, and sites would be subject to inspection by the Board of Health.
Massa said Board of Health permits will also be required for plumbing gas and electric.
One resident said the bylaw was “opening a can of worms.” Massa said that because there is currently no bylaw, the activity is not allowed.
Another resident asked where the 10 acres requirement came from, which he called not fair and “ridiculous,” adding that requiring someone who doesn’t own 10 acres to seek a special permit is “discriminatory.”
Planning Board member Richard Holzman said the reason for requiring a special permit for less than 10 acres is due to the proximity of neighbors.
Responding to a question, Massa said hunters’ cabins would be considered glamping. She said a special permit can be sought for anything not outlined in the ordinance.
Another resident asked about the Chester Railway Station’s caboose, which has been rented for overnights and weekends for years, and is a main source of revenue for the historic station. Massa said it will require a special permit.
In response to another question, Massa said tiny homes are not allowed in the ordinance. After more discussion, the ordinance passed with a two-thirds majority of 38 to 11.
Massa also spoke about a petition article to enact a bylaw providing for a special election within 70 days whenever a Select Board seat is vacated with more than 100 days left in the term.
Currently, the Select Board can choose to call an election, or leave it up to the town to ask for a special election through a citizen petition process, which requires 180 signatures — 20% of registered voters.
Baldasaro said this spring, Select Board member Jason Forgue resigned, and due to the timing, the town could not put the vacancy on the ballot in the regular municipal election.
“We could have said to hold a special election, but it’s not in the budget,” he said, adding, “I don’t think it’s a bad idea.” The bylaw passed with one opposed.
There will be a special election to fill Forgue’s seat, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 8, in the Town Hall Auditorium. This special election was brought about by a citizen’s petition. The winner will serve until next year’s annual town election.
The last article at the Town Meeting on June 12, a citizen petition to amend the Wireless Communications Bylaw, was not voted on, because the town counsel said it had not been published and did not receive a public hearing.