ELDRED, NY — Three’s the charm for Nonna Hall’s pottery studio.

On June 26 she made her third appearance before the Highland Planning Board, which accepted her application to open the studio with retail and gallery space and two residential apartments.

Some dozen people turned out to support Hall sporting bright green T-shirts printed with “Hall Space by Nonnetta.” Cheering and applause followed the board’s unanimous vote.

Hall had been upset by the months-long delay to her application, which had various reasons: the planning board’s requests for additional information; a neighbor’s complaints about property encroachment; neighbors not being notified of the public hearing; a planning board member’s recusal after a dispute with Hall; a planning board consultant’s concerns about parking; and the planning board attorney’s recommendation that the public comment period be extended because not all residents had a chance to view the application.

“Why is it this hard to open a pottery studio?” Hall asked after the last planning board meeting. 

Her husband, Jeff Hall, said he addressed the parking concerns posed by the board’s engineering consultant, Kenneth Ellsworth of Keystone Associates. Three new businesses nearby have agreed to let the Halls use their parking areas for events. They will set up warning cones and have people with safety vests directing traffic. 

Alternate board member David Pietkiewicz was filling in for planning board member JT Vogt, who was absent from the meeting. Pietkiewicz asked the Halls if they had a written agreement for parking.

“We’re a planning board,” he said. “You know, a verbal agreement is just a verbal agreement. I want you to be successful.”

Jeff Hall said there is no written agreement. But the applicant’s new attorney, Jacob Billig, quickly jumped in to cite town code 190-40, A1, which states: “A one-day event such as, but not limited to, weddings, fishing tournaments, sporting events, chamber functions and fundraisers shall be exempt from these regulations as they are temporary in nature.” 

“Your concerns are of course reasonable,” Billig said, “but they’re doing their best to alleviate those concerns even though they’re exempt.”

Jeff Spitz, the planning board chair, said safety is his main concern, and that cones and traffic attendants will cover that problem. The handicapped parking requirement will be waived.

The apartment must be brought up to fire safety standards. Hall must submit an updated architecture plan that includes a maximum of 900 square feet of retail space and an updated parking plan.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to state that David Pietkiewicz is the alternate for planning board member JT Vogt, and not for Tim McKenna, as originally reported. Teddy Knuetter is the alternate for McKenna, who had recused himself from the pottery studio application.