Several months ago, the Town Trustees began work on design review guidelines for the Recreational Zone District. At present, there are no standards governing building height, placement, or architectural compatibility—whether at the beach or at Marston, where the tennis and pickleball courts are located. As things currently stand, a building at the beach or Marston could potentially be constructed several stories high, placed directly on a lot line, or even built along the narrow strip of land between Lakeshore homes and the lake.

To continue progress on solving this longstanding issue, several of our Town Trustees met last evening with members of the BMOI Board to collaborate and explore solutions. As the primary property owner in the affected area, BMOI is a key stakeholder in this process. I’m proud to report that the meeting represented a meaningful step forward. What took place last evening was thoughtful, face-to-face and respectful dialogue among community-minded individuals working toward a shared solution.

This morning, I want to extend my sincere thanks to the entire BMOI Board, as well as to the Town Trustees and Design Review Board, for their volunteer efforts to help create a solution for this issue. Following the productive discussions last evening, the Town will continue its work on the Recreational Zone design review guidelines at its next public meeting on August 18th at 6:00 p.m. where we will welcome continued input from the community. Together, we are working hard to resolve a decades-old challenge by bringing greater clarity to these vital parcels of land within our community.

Bryan Sperry, Mayor