WILMINGTON, MA — At a special meeting on Monday night, the Wilmington Planning Board unanimously gave their consent for the town to bring a “repetitive petition” for a special permit request — to hold a carnival at the Swain School site during the Fun on the Fourth — back in front of the Wilmington Board of Appeals.
Planning Director Valerie Gingrich opened the discussion by explaining the process and stressing that Board members were strictly considering whether or not to give the town consent to proceed to the Board of Appeals. Planning Board members were not being asked to consider whether they approved of the carnival site or the carnival plans.
Town Manager Jeff Hull then made a brief presentation to the Planning Board, explaining the two-step process behind a “repetitive petition” — the mechanism that will allow the Board of Appeals to consider a request similar to the one it denied last month. Typically, the Board of Appeals cannot hear the same request or a similar request in a two-year period.
The first step in the “repetitive petition” process is fulfilling the requirement that at least four of the five Planning Board members off their content. This was the purpose of Monday night’s meeting.
The second step in the “repetitive petition” process involves the Board of Appeals finding that “specific and material changes” exist between the conditions spelled out in both requests.
Hull provided a preview of that argument, mentioning six changes:
- The initial special permit request was made by the Wilmington Fourth of July Committee. The new special permit request is being made by the Town of Wilmington.
- The initial request had the carnival running from Wednesday, June 29 to Sunday, July 3. The new request has the carnival running from Thursday, June 30 to Sunday, July 3.
- The intiial request had the carnival running for 34 hours, including 6pm-10pm on Wednesday & Thursday, 6pm-11pm on Friday, noon to 11pm on Saturday & 1pm to 11pm on Sunday. The new request has the carnival running for only 25 hours, including 5pm-9pm on Thursday & Friday, noon to 10pm on Saturday, and 1pm to 8pm on Sunday.
- The initial request had the carnival with up 15 rides. The new request has the carnival with 12-14 rides.
- The initial request had the carnival with 15 concession stands and game booths. The new request has the carnival with 12 concession stands and game booths.
- The initial request had Fiesta Shows as the carnival operator. The new request does not have a specific carnival operator, as the contract is going out to bid.
Now that the Planning Board has allowed the process to move forward, Town Manager Hull will go in front of the Board of Appeals this Thursday, March 24 at 7pm to make the case that the new special permit request satisfies the “specific and material changes” requirement.
If the Board of Appeals finds the changes sufficient enough and votes in the affirmative, Hull will go back in front of the same board on Wednesday, April 13 at 7pm to discuss the merits of the actual special permit request and receive a vote from the full board on whether or not to grant the request.
Before Monday’s vote, Selectman Chair Mike Champoux briefly addressed the Planning Board, encouraging members to allow the process to continue to the Board of Appeals.
No other members of the public spoke. Planning Board Chair Michael Sorrentino encouraged folks to hold their comments to the Board of Appeals Meeting, noting tonight’s vote was more procedural in nature.
Wilmington Community Television (WCTV) will be televising Thursday’s Board of Appeals Meeting live at 7pm on WCTV-G (Channel 22 on Comcast, Channel 39 on Verizon). The meeting will also be streamed online HERE.
Wilmington Apple hopes to provide a recap of the meeting by Friday morning.
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