Zoning Board

- 120 Beaufort Place pool fence, masonry wall, and impervious surface legalization approved 5-0; board found features long-established, well-screened, and minimal hardship from variances. - 21 Circuit Road seven additional parking spaces (including compact and handicap) approved 5-0 with setback variance; neighbors objected to congestion in shared easement and safety risks, but chair emphasized parking relief; planning board to address drainage, fire access, and compact-space enforcement. - 132 Sickles Avenue one-family-to-two-family conversion approved 5-0 with FAR, lot-area, and setback variances; board cited dense neighborhood context and parking repositioning recommendation for planning board. - 236 Clinton Avenue front-porch enclosure approved 6-0 with minimal 5% FAR increase; board found practical necessity and neighborhood consistency. - 103 Gail Drive fourteen-by-twenty wood deck approved 5-0; shallow rear yard required setback variance and board found no feasible alternate location. - 40 Beech Road two-story addition (1,500 sq ft, replacing 300 sq ft garage) adjourned; neighbor at 27 Springdale Road opposed the 66% rear setback variance (10 ft proposed vs. 30 ft required), citing property-value and privacy loss and rock-removal risk; applicant to revise plans and negotiate with neighbor. - 89 Devonshire Road deck-construction extension approved 6-0; twelve-month timeline granted with no conditions or objections.

- 12 Elmridge Drive addition approved 5-0 for FAR and floor-area variance; applicant cut the proposal by 500 sq ft to 493 sq ft over the limit (11% variance), and comparable properties in the neighborhood already exceed the allowed FAR. - 21 Circuit Road parking expansion adjourned to June 2; applicant needs legible site plans, lighting plan showing 1.5 foot-candle minimum, and clarity on sight lines and pedestrian safety in the narrow shared driveway; neighbors expressed serious concerns about visibility from parking spaces backing into traffic, children walking to a new bus stop, and winter snow impacts. - 106 Pershing Avenue garage approved 4-1; applicant removing nonconforming detached garage from rear and replacing with 18×20 ft attached side garage to create usable backyard; combined side-yard setback variance 11.5 ft proposed vs. 20 ft required; Fernando Arias dissented citing the 42% variance. - 109 Fourth Street church conversion approved 5-0 for zero parking variance; Portuguese social club becoming church with building occupying entire lot and no feasible parking expansion; board applied balancing test and found no neighborhood character change despite 16 spaces required. - 12 Elmridge Drive addition approved 5-0; already listed above. - 132 Sickles Avenue two-family conversion adjourned to June 2026; applicant seeking variances for lot area per unit (167 sq ft short) and FAR (0.46 vs. 0.4 required); needs to submit research on comparable undersized two-family properties and revised parking plan addressing Planning Board concerns. - 40 Earle Place fence approved 5-0; wood fence 5-6 ft high (exceeding 4-ft front limit) follows natural slope; board found safety and security benefit for children and dog containment outweighs detriment; Historic Landmarks Review Board approval still required before final legalization. - 40 Green Place parking approved 5-0; legalized conversion of garage to accessible bedroom for ill husband with off-street parking space in front yard (2-ft and 1-ft setbacks vs. 30-ft and 6-ft required); board found no undesirable neighborhood impact and emphasized human circumstances.