JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Berlin Town Hall

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(Dec. 19, 2019) Berlin’s Planning and Zoning Department had a busy year, with 10 permits filed for single- family homes, and more than 200 overall permits, Director Dave Engelhart told members of the Town Coun- cil during a meeting last week.

This year’s permits were higher than in recent years. There were six permits filed in 2018 as well as in 2017.

“They’ve climbed since I’ve been around. So the values are there,” Engelhart said in an interview last Wednesday. “If you’ve owned the lot, there’s probably not a better time to build between interest rates and the value …”

Engelhart attributed the uptick in new construction with the town’s ris- ing popularity over the past decade.

“It’s the lifestyle, the family-type town, the schools right?” Engelhart said. “That’s why people want to be in Worcester County.”

Engelhart also cited the economy and interest rates as reasons for the increase.

“You know you look at the interest rates, they’re historically low for mortgages,” Engelhart said.

Permits are typically used to make a change to a home or business.

Property owners applied for 236 permits in 2019, according to Engelhart. There were 195 permit applica- tions in 2018 and 235 permits granted in 2017.

Among the changes in homes and businesses that require a permit are signs, fences, sheds, decks and renovations.

“It’s always best to check with the planning department for what requires a permit,” Engelhart said.