BUZZARDS BAY – Bourne selectmen have granted a Buzzards Bay property owner another extension to make necessary improvements to comply with a bylaw governing disposition of dilapidated properties.
Michael Maxim now has until July 9th to upgrade his structure at 328 Main Street.
If the building is not improved, selectmen will direct Town Administrator Thomas Guerino to enforce the anti–blight bylaw with appropriate financial penalties.
“One aspect of this hearing and of discussion is to consider needing or not needing the blight bylaw,” said Chair selectwoman Judith Macleod-Froman.
“It seems like that could be a direction that we go.”
Maxim told selectmen last week he has plans to demolish the building he owns just east of Belmont Circle and rebuild it.
Plans call for a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor and office space below.
Maxim said that he and the project engineer have come up with a course of action, “Our plan is to use the foundation that exist and build it up and take it out of the flood zone,”
“If we find that we can’t do that, he’s looking into the bylaws now, and if we find out we can’t do that then the foundation would come out and we would put in a new one.”
Maxim said state Department of Transportation guidelines would have to be met as they pertain to curb cuts and the new building’s setback, given that the Main Street address is actually part of the state – owned Scenic Highway.
Bourne Building Inspector Roger Laporte took issue with that sentiment, saying the structure must conform with the town’s zoning for the area and that state control would only pertain to the access point.
Selectmen accentuated their sentiment that Maxim has two options at this point: demolish the dilapidated structure or improve the point that it meets the blight bylaw.
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