Proprietors surprised after neighbor raises concerns over noise ordinance issues

By Greg Ellison

(June 3, 2021) The Inn Berlin operators, Maya and Marco Tomasello, are troubled that neighbors are objecting to private onsite events at the 15 Harrison Avenue site potentially disturbing adjacent properties.

Maya said the 18th Century Victorian mansion functions as a bed and breakfast for up to 10 guests, with plans to offer private dining for up to 30 attendees.

On April 14, the Board of Zoning Appeals voted 3-1 to approve a variance request for the property owners, Pino and Karen Tomasello, to stage private outdoor tented events on the 1.5-acre property for a maximum of 60 attendees.

“We got approved to do outdoor tented events which is very exciting for us,” Maya said. “We plan to have weddings and intimate celebrations in the future.”

During the Berlin mayor and Town Council meeting on May 24, however, neighbor Joe Hill proposed reviewing conditional use zoning codes for possible revisions.

Hill questioned the April 14 zoning ruling that granted the Tomasellos a conditional use to permit outdoor-tented events.

“It’s sad that we’re getting this kind of push back from neighbors, especially considering that we’ve been open a month now and haven’t heard a peep about any negativity,” Maya said. “We’ve actually had a few people that have come by and voiced their support for what we’re doing.”

Tomasello also stressed that the couple live at the location.

“This is our home but it’s also our business,” she said. “We’re trying to be good neighbors and not have a disturbance.”

While yet to set up any outdoor tents since launching the venture in recent months, the Inn Berlin has done steady business.

“We’ve been super respectful of the neighbors and haven’t gotten any noise complaints,” she said. “Our guests are here to relax and enjoy the town.”

Maya took exception to the assertion by Hill that the Inn Berlin, and other R-2 zoned businesses, would negatively affect the bottom lines for Main Street entities.

“That really bothered me because we’re bringing business to the town,” she said. “We’re bringing tourists here to stay at the inn, to shop on Main Street and to dine at Main Street restaurants.”

Maya said the lodging establishment’s social media marketing has been used to promote the larger area.

“The first blog post that I wrote for our website was things to do in Berlin,” she said. “We’re giving our guests recommendations where to go.”

She also pointed out that even though the couple launched their business this year, the property has been zoned as a bed and breakfast since 2011, and that Hill supported the previous owner, Mark Kauffman, when he sought that designation for his business, the Waystead Inn.

“It’s interesting, the change of tune for us versus the previous owner,” she said.

“My husband, Marco, is from Berlin and went to Stephen Decatur High School. He’s a local guy.”

Before opening the new bed and breakfast concept this year, the Tomasellos added landscaping to boost the property’s curb appeal.

“It makes me sad that people … would intimate that we’re nasty neighbors without so much as going to talk to us personally,” she said. “It’s just not friendly and this is a friendly town.”

To this point the Inn Berlin has yet to book any outdoor events, but potential clients have visited the site to investigate wedding locations.

“We do have a couple events planned for the future,” she said.

In June 2012, Kauffman was granted a conditional use to host dinner parties for a maximum of 30 people including overnight guests, which was expanded in April to permit tented events on the grounds.

Maya said the inn plans to adhere to all zoning restrictions.

“We plan to follow it to the letter because we understand it’s a special permission and it could be taken away if we don’t play by the rules,” she said.

“People come here to relax and enjoy the serenity of the surroundings,” she said. “The property backs to green space owned by Worcester County, which lends to the ambience.”