In a unanimous decision last night, Portsmouth's zoning board granted the appeal of Rhode Island Nurseries, sending back to the planning board for reconsideration a proposed development that would include a road bisecting the Glen Ridge alpaca farm. Sitting as the planning board of appeals, the 6-member panel heard nearly three hours of testimony from attorneys representing both sides before rendering their decision.

The planning board, last November, had denied the RI Nurseries application. Since this was an appeal, at issue was the procedural correctness of the planning board's actions, rather than the development proposal itself, and the board decided there were problems that warranted overturning the ruling.

"Whether we like something or not is irrelevant," said chair Jim Nott, in explaining his vote. "We have to go by ordinances." He went on to cite what he called a "disturbing" lack of explanation by the planning board, which only provided rationale for their votes two months after the fact. "If the decision is that important," said Nott, "Why just 'yea' or 'nay'? Why not prepare decisions?" Nott also quoted from two of the board members' written explanations, finding a lack of grounding in evidence in one, and an ambivalence in the other which, he noted, might have been resolved had the board reported out their rationale at the November meeting.

Other board members voiced similar concerns, and voted to remand. The ruling sends the proposal back to the planning board for reconsideration.

This was the first time I've covered one of these appeal hearings, and I was struck once again by the serious professionalism of our volunteer boards. These are our fellow citizens, regular folks with jobs and families, who are putting in long hours to make important decisions affecting the growth and future of Portsmouth. They listened and probed as attorneys for both sides made highly detailed technical arguments, and while supporters of the alpaca farm may be disappointed with the outcome, there should be at least some measure of reassurance that such processes are in place and working. And back to the planning board...