GREENWOOD – In a 2-0 decision Thursday, the Board of Appeals rejected a property owner’s request to reconsider an earlier decision regarding his lodging business.

The Appeals Board accepted a findings of fact in September declaring that Jonathan Wells of Old Orchard Beach did not obtain needed permits to change his property from residential to commercial use.

Wells is the operator of Round Pond Station, a property on South Pond. According to Wells’ Web site, Round Pond Station has three buildings and a railroad caboose for vacation rental. Wells listed the property as having nine bedrooms that could sleep 20 to 30 people.

William Kaplan, a neighbor to the property, asked for an appeal on earlier Planning Board permits to Wells, complaining of bright lights, loud noise, and erosion on his property caused by ATVs and snowmobiles.

According to the findings of fact, Wells did not file for required building permits for changes made to the property prior to 2006, including the installation of plumbing and heating in the caboose and “the conversion of any available space in the four structures into sleeping quarters.”

The Board of Appeals remanded the appeal to the Planning Board to restrict the property to its former use as a camp, which could only be rented to one family or fewer than five people. The board also recommended that the Planning Board consider fining Wells.

Town Manager Kim Sparks said the Planning Board decided that the property could be considered a residential building with accessory structures as long as there is only one kitchen facility.

Sparks said Wells has filed an appeal in the Oxford County Superior Court against the Board of Appeals.

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