By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — The barn hasn’t been built yet. However, the property-owner of an 83-acre wooded parcel has a dream of how he’d like to use his land. He would like to build a barn for events like weddings and wedding anniversaries. 

The problem is the Town of Naples doesn’t allow this use (an events barn) in the rural district.

For more than a year, Naples resident James Willworth has been trying to get his dream business off the ground. 

“I am seeking a land use ordinance change for an event barn. When I say an events barn, it would be primarily for weddings. I don’t see anything other than that or an anniversary party or possibly participating in Maine Maple Sunday,” Willworth said.

He appeared before the Naples Board of Selectmen on June 14, asking if the selectmen could request the Naples Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) to hear his case. 

The date is Monday (June 28) when a workshop will be held on how to approach allowing a commercial use in the rural zone. The workshop will be held during the selectmen’s regularmeeting at the Naples Town Hall. 

While describing the history of dealing with the town, Willworth said he was under the impression that the ORC did not like the idea of an events barn. It got a thumbs-down, he said.

“I don’t understand the opposition,” he said. “I don’t know how many of you have gone to a wedding at one of these facilities. I don’t know of any wedding barn facility that is in a commercial setting. That is not what people want. They don’t want a wedding off [Route] 302. They want a wedding on my property. I have 83 acres — wooded, fields.”

Chairman Jim Grattelo said he was familiar with the type of venue.

“I just went to the Old Saco Inn in Fryeburg last night. Sitting in the middle of the woods, it’s a beautiful spot,” he said. 

Willworth spoke during the public participation period at the June 14 meeting. He said that last month he was informed via an email from the town office that the ORC wouldn’t meet again until the end of summer or autumn.  

“I don’t think asking the board to expedite this process is an unrealistic request,” he said. 

Grattelo said, “So you want your day in court? You want to be able to go before the ORC and present your case?”

Willworth answered.  

“Whether it is thumbs-up or a thumbs-down, I am pretty confident that I can make a case that it would fit into the character of the town,” he said. 

He said one of the concerns he heard was that if the land was rezoned commercial, the building could become a restaurant. 

“I can tell you right now I don’t want to be in the restaurant business. This is my property. I have to co-exist with the businesses on the property. I want a business that will fit,” Willworth said. 

Chairman Grattelo said he it was about six months ago that he and Willworth talked on the telephone.

“I’ll state my [concerns] publicly. You sell the property tomorrow and someone has a whole different plan. We’ve seen that in town before,” Grattelo said. “The second issue is . . . in this particular case, it is going to be considered spot zoning. I think we need to explore more than one avenue. One might be a contract zone. One might be a consent agreement.”

With a consent agreement, the property-owner and the Town of Naples would enter into the pact that spells out the specific use for part of the parcel. If the property were to be sold, that consent agreement would expire. 

Willworth expressed frustration that the idea of consent agreement was not brought up sooner. 

“So, this has been my history: I started this process with [Code Enforcement Officer] Renee [Carter], asking her if I could do it. I was flat out told no. It’s a commercial venture in the rural district. The Town of Naples does not do spot zoning. I was told no, Naples does not do conditional use permits,” he said. “It has been a constant battle and I’m really getting frustrated.” 

Chairman Grattelo asked other board members what they thought about 

Instructing the ORC to have a meeting.  

Selectman Ted Shane said, “I think it is a reasonable request. He oughta have his ‘day in court,’ so to speak.”  

Naples Town Manager John Hawley said he might be tough to get enough members for a vote. 

“Historically, we cannot get a quorumduring the summer months for some of the committees. We can order up the meeting, and I cannot guarantee anything,” he said.  

That is when Grattelo suggested a joint meeting with selectmen or a workshop to which ORC member were invited. The date of June 28 was set.