Planning Board members, the building official and staff spent a significant portion of the Feb. 4 meeting discussing how the town regulates temporary structures and event tents and whether the current process leaves public-safety gaps.

Mike Gianpietro, identified at the meeting as a former zoning enforcement officer and representing building interests, described how state building codes and local thresholds affect permitting. Gianpietro said residential building permits are not required for structures under 200 square feet and that commercial rules trigger at smaller thresholds, and he noted the practical differences between tents used for single-weekend private events and larger, recurring commercial uses.

Board members and staff said many backyard or short-term event tents do not reach thresholds that trigger Planning Board special permits, so neither the Building Department nor the Fire Department is always notified. Planning staff and board members said that has led to cases where families or event organizers learn late that they need a permit, sometimes causing rescheduling and added expense.

Participants discussed options including:
- Distinguishing residential and commercial temporary uses in the zoning bylaw and setting clear short-term thresholds (for example, specifying a maximum number of days for short-term residential tents).
- Shifting more routine, short-duration permits to a Building Department/Fire Department coordination process rather than Planning Board special-permit review.
- Requiring tent vendors to inform property owners about permit requirements.

No formal vote was taken on bylaw language at the meeting. Board members asked the newly formed zoning subcommittee to consider temporary-structure and sign rules as part of its review and to recommend whether the town should alter square-footage thresholds, short-term definitions or the responsible permitting authority.