After the Planning Board postponed a hearing a last month on Sperry Tents’ parking at private residence, the Board gave a few options to speed up the approval process Tuesday night.

In September, Rochester residents Marjorie and Tim Strutski were served a cease-and-desist order from Building Commissioner James Buckles, which effectively stopped Sperry Tents, located at 15 Dexter Lane, from parking on the Strutskis’ adjacent property.

At the Nov. 22 meeting, Tim Sperry, who operates Sperry Tents, said he began using the lot for parking, with the Strutski’s permission, due to the expansion of his business. The Planning Board determined that Sperry’s use of the parking lot was in violation of the original site plan, which does not account for a parking lot on the Strutskis’ property.

The board then required Sperry to undergo a site plan review process to amend the current plan. The review would also be taking into account the large trucks used by Sperry’s company, which the board members worried could potentially be a risk for accidents.

Though the official hearing on the matter has been postponed until January 24, the Planning Board discussed last Tuesday a few options for Sperry to consider in order to once again obtain the use of the Strutski’s lot.

Board member Gary Florindo suggested that Sperry consider entering into a lease agreement with the Strutskis. This, he said, would alleviate any issues that may arise over who is responsible for the road and any accidents that may occur – the Strutskis or Sperry.

“(Strutski and Sperry) should be kept individual so that it’s separate, rather to have a lease agreement so that Sperry is responsible for the parking lot,” Florindo said. “If you don’t have a lease sooner or later, it’s going to be a tangled mess.”

“(The Strutskis) should have something in writing,” Chairman Arnold Johnson said. “That covers them for future use.”

According to local bylaws, Johnson said, if the road is not put into use and added to the site plan, then the road must be removed.

“They either have to put it on the site plan or get rid of it,” Johnson said.

Board member Susan Teal also suggested that another entrance be added to the road, which she said, would make it easier for Sperry’s trucks to get in and out of the lot.

These suggestions, both Johnson and Florindo said, were preliminary suggestions. The official recommendations of the board will be held until the Jan. 24 meeting with Sperry.

“We are not at the point of making any decisions on it but we can plan on it,” Florindo said.

The Planning Board’s approval is only step one for Sperry.

If Sperry does meet with the standards during the site plan review process, then he would still have to be given a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals to obtain the parking rights.