Planning Board recommends denial of animal-keeping variance petition
The Planning Board recommended denial of a variance petition to keep animals on a residential property. Kelly Loud sought relief to keep chickens and a donkey on a So. Main St. property after the Zoning Enforcement Officer issued a cease-and-desist letter for insufficient land.
Planning Board · Meeting of October 13, 2026
BELCHERTOWN — The Planning Board recommended denial of a variance petition to keep animals on a residential property. Kelly Loud sought relief to keep chickens and a donkey on a So. Main St. property after the Zoning Enforcement Officer issued a cease-and-desist letter for insufficient land.
Chair Dan Beaudette found the petition lacked legal standing under the Dover Amendment, which he noted applies only to non-profit educational institutions, not day care operations. The board reached consensus to recommend denial and will draft a letter to the ZBA. In separate action, the board unanimously appointed Dan Beaudette to the Municipal Affordable and Resilient Housing Trust.
In the full story:
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Source: the Planning Board meeting of October 13, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
Checked against the official minutes.
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