Court Opinion

ID: 4269322
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-24 00:13:57.083984+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:10.370455
License: Public Domain

STATE OF VERMONT

                                 ENVIRONMENTAL COURT

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In re: Appeal of                     }
 Stuart L. Richards                  }       Docket No. 236-12-99 Vtec
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  Decision and Order on Appellee-Applicant=s Second Motion for Summary Judgment

         Appellant appealed from a decision of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) of the
Town of Norwich, granting a permit to Paul Nowicki for the construction of a single-family
residence at 84 Elm Street. Appellant is represented by John D. Hansen, Esq.; Appellee-
Applicant Paul Nowicki is represented by Laura O=Connor, Esq. and John C. Candon, Esq.;
the Town of Norwich is represented by its Zoning Administrator, Phil Dechert, who is not an
attorney. A number of neighbors have entered their appearance individually as interested
parties in opposition to the grant of the permit, but have not participated in the pretrial
motions.
         After disposing of the issues relating to merger or non-merger of the two lots, the
Court set a hearing on the merits of the only remaining issue: whether the sewage system
designed and permitted for Parcel 2 will violate the performance standards of the Norwich
Zoning Regulations regarding Aobjectionable odor.@ Appellee-Applicant has now moved
for summary judgment on that issue, objecting to the setting of hearing on the merits of that
issue.
         Appellee-Applicant argues that the Town=s grant of a septic system permit as an
innovative system precludes Appellant from arguing in this Court that the approved septic
system will violate the performance standards of the Zoning Regulations. The test for an
innovative system under the Town=s on-site septic regulations appears to be whether the
system is consistent with the protection of public health and safety. The odor performance
standard under '6.1 of the Zoning Regulations is that no Aobjectionable odors@ be created.
That phrase is defined by a reasonable person standard in '5.24. The two standards are
not identical. That is, it is at least theoretically possible for a septic system to be consistent

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with the protection of public health and safety, in that sewage does not rise to the surface
or contaminate groundwater, and yet that it might create objectionable odors. Appellant is
entitled to present evidence on the issue of whether the approved septic system will create
objectionable odors as that term is defined in '5.24.
       However, because of the evident history of the litigation between the parties, we
must note that Appellant will not be permitted to relitigate any issues of whether the
approved system complies with the state on-site sewage standards or whether it complies
with the Town=s septic ordinance. The only and very limited issue before the Court is
whether the approved septic system will create objectionable odors.
       Accordingly, based on the foregoing, Appellee-Applicant=s Motion for Summary
Judgment is DENIED, and therefore Appellee-Applicant=s Motion for Sanctions is also
DENIED. The hearing on the issue remaining in this matter is hereby scheduled for
Wednesday, April 26, 2000 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Windsor Superior Courthouse in
Woodstock. The Court will expect the parties to be prepared to file any trial memoranda
and requests for findings at that hearing, whether in writing or orally, and will allow oral
argument at the close of the evidence so as to be able to issue a final ruling in this matter
on the record at the hearing.

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       Done at Barre, Vermont, this 5        day of April, 2000.

                            _________________________________________________
                                 Merideth Wright
                                 Environmental Judge

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