Meeting report · Zoning Board of Adjustment
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Zoning Board of Adjustment — March 17, 2026
The meeting was procedural and calm, featuring only one public speaker who expressed support for the project rather than opposition.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Commercial expansion at 4 Mill Rd
Change from wood storage to active commercial/hospitality use (brewery/restaurant) likely increasing local traffic and activity. Affected: Local residents and abutters near Mill Road
zoning change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approval of Brian Mackenzie's Special Exception Application for 4 Mill Rd.
The application was approved contingent upon the receipt of all required state permits.
Passed (Unanimous)
Approval of February 17, 2026, meeting minutes.
Minutes were accepted as amended.
Passed (Unanimous, with Dickinson abstaining from the original meeting in question)
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
Public Hearing: Brian Mackenzie Special Exception Application
A request to enclose and expand an existing wood storage structure at 4 Mill Rd to accommodate commercial uses including a brewery, restaurant, bakery, and function hall.
Speakers: Jon Warzocha, Brian Mackenzie, Jeff Dickinson, Jeff Newcomb, Anne Drueding
Review and Approval of Minutes
The board reviewed the amended minutes from the February 17, 2026, meeting.
Speakers: Christine Vigenault, Jeff Newcomb, Jeff Dickinson
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Brian Mackenzie Special Exception Application (4 Mill Rd)
The application seeks to convert a wood storage structure into a multi-use commercial hub (brewery, restaurant, bakery, function hall), which typically raises concerns regarding noise, traffic, and land use changes in residential or semi-rural areas.
Board position: The board approved the application contingent upon state permits.
low concern
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Obtain all required state permits to fulfill the conditions of the special exception approval.
Assigned: Brian Mackenzie
Notable statements
Approval of the application would require a unanimous vote. — Jon Warzocha · Noting that only three board members were present for the hearing.
Stated that she fully supports the refinery and their desire to expand the facility. — Anne Drueding · Public comment as a property abutter during the hearing.
Noted that even before the location was home to the refinery, the lot was used regularly by lumber yards and accessed regularly by trucks. — Jeff Newcomb · Discussion regarding anticipated increases in traffic to the property.
Member positions
2 issues · 0 explicit · 4 inferred
Jon Warzocha
Present
Chair
Public Hearing: Brian Mackenzie Special Exception Application
YES
~
Supported approval contingent on state permits
Review and Approval of Minutes
YES
~
Approved the amended minutes
Jeff Dickinson
Present
Vice Chair
Public Hearing: Brian Mackenzie Special Exception Application
YES
~
Supported approval contingent on state permits
Review and Approval of Minutes
YES
✓
Approved the amended minutes
Andrew Guptill
Absent
Alternate
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position.
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
1
Total speakers
1
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Anne Drueding
07:20
Addressed
Ms. Drueding spoke as a property abutter regarding the special exception application. She expressed her full support for the refinery and their intention to expand the facility.
Key concern
Support for the applicant's expansion project.
Board responseThe board acknowledged the public hearing phase and moved to evaluate the application against the five required criteria, ultimately approving the application.
The speaker provided testimony of support, and the board proceeded to review the application criteria and grant the approval she supported.
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Report composed by
grok-4.3, gemma-4-26b, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-01.