News Stories

Select Board Considers Request For Residential Aesthetic Rules

The Select Board is considering ways to protect individuals’ rights to build houses according to their preferences while also protecting the character of Burlington’s residential neighborhoods after a resident brought forth concerns about an out-of-character home on his street. 

John Hickey, a resident of Burlington’s Fox Hill neighborhood, said a newly built house on his block resembles an office building and is out of character with the smaller homes on the block. 

“I know everybody has the right on private property to build what they want, but there is such a thing as aesthetics and character in neighborhoods as well. I can tell you everyone in my neighborhood is beside themselves,” Hickey said. “I’m coming before you and I’m more than willing to help, with your help, to create some sort of a subcommittee to take a look at this.” 

Hickey pointed to neighboring towns, including Bedford, Wilmington and Winchester, that have a variety of restrictions on residential aesthetics, from special review processes for anything built before 1945 to establishing different districts with their own rules for setbacks and heights. 

Hickey originally brought this up at a previous Select Board meeting during Citizens Time, when any resident can speak for three minutes on any issue that’s not on the agenda. At that time, the Select Board recommended he speak to the Planning Board. But, Hickey said, the Planning Board was supportive, but he thought it might be best to go back to the Select Board to start something up. 

At Monday night’s Select Board meeting, the Select Board supported Hickey’s intentions but were mixed on next steps, primarily ending up pointing him back to Planning. 

“When I first heard you went to the Planning Board, I was totally against this, and then I saw your neighbor’s house and I kind of got it,” said Vice Chair Mike Espejo. “I’d never want to tell someone what to do with their property, and I know that style and taste is different for everybody, but I think we should take a look at it at least, and I think we should do something to preserve the character of our neighborhoods.”

“I fully support what you’re doing, I’d love to see something like this happen,” said member Jim Tigges. “I will support whatever kind of task force or subcommittee, but it probably shouldn’t be the Select Board because we’re not the ones who deal with planning or zoning bylaws… the driving board or the guiding board should be someone that does this, that this is their area of expertise.”

“I firmly believe that at least a member of the Select Board should be on whatever committee they put together,” said member Nick Priest. “We’re not trying to push you back onto them. We’re trying to point you in the right direction.”

It could take years for a task force or a subcommittee to solicit input, settle on specifics, and incorporate feedback. Any potential zoning bylaw change would need to be approved by Town Meeting.