Berlin Planning Board Closes Hearing on Drive-Thru Zoning, Delays Final Vote

BERLIN — October 28, 2025 — Berlin Planning Board closes hearing on drive-thru zoning amendment affecting two commercial overlay districts. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to end a public hearing on a warrant article that would allow drive-up facilities at Highland Commons and the Solomon Pond Mall area, deferring a final vote to the November 4 meeting. Chair Tom Sanford and member Timothy Wheeler defended the change as a modest tweak to zones already distinguished from the rest of town zoning, while member Thomas Andrew warned the board could face spot-zoning accusations and noted no commercial tenant has yet filed a proposal. Resident Susanna Roberts urged the board to attach a cleanup fee to any drive-thru permit, citing litter on Central Street; Sanford agreed to review existing Highland Commons trash-removal obligations and report back. The board also unanimously approved an Approval Not Required plan for 136 Central Street, allowing Jerry Burn to merge roughly 28,450 square feet of orchard land with his house lot to meet home-based business frontage and lot-size requirements.