ZBA Grants Two Variances For Olive Street House

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The board voted 3-0 to grant two variances allowing an existing house on Olive Street to occupy its own lot with only about 20 feet of frontage versus 150 feet required, the first application under Massachusetts's new 'practical difficulty' standard. It found design changes to the 61 Waverly Street apartment project—including a 539-square-foot building reduction, 3,900-square-foot amenity increase, and two additional parking spaces—insubstantial in a 3-0 vote. It continued the 55 West Union Street comprehensive permit waiver review to November 17.

Key decisions

• 📋 Frontage and lot-shape variances. Granted 3-0 two variances for lot frontage and lot shape, allowing the existing single-family house at 120 Olive Street to occupy its own compliant lot despite only about 20 feet of driveway frontage where 150 feet is required. The variances enable the property to be divided, though no confirmed development plan for the remaining roughly 10 acres is before the board. (Vote 3-0). Read case details
• 📋 Comprehensive permit design changes. Found 3-0 that five design changes are insubstantial under state comprehensive-permit regulations: a 539-square-foot reduction in building area to 276,000 square feet, a 3,900-square-foot increase in amenity space to just over 8,000 square feet, a 211-square-foot footprint adjustment, two additional parking spaces bringing the total to 351, and relocated trash and loading areas. No new public hearing is required, and the project may proceed to sale from Gutierrez Company to WP East Acquisitions LLC. (Vote 3-0; Next: Nov. 2). Read case details
• 📋 Comprehensive permit waiver review. The board reviewed a 34-item regulatory waiver list, clearing most items without objection but placing holds on items regarding wetlands buffers, signage, landscaping, stormwater, and building and public works fee schedules for further discussion at the November 17 meeting. The decision deadline is November 25. (Vote 5-0; Next: Nov. 17, 7 p.m.). Read case details

Next dates

• Nov. 2: 61 Waverly Street Conservation Commission review
• Nov. 17: 55 West Union Street comprehensive permit hearing

Research this meeting with Townbrief AI: “Did the ZBA grant the two variances for the Olive Street house?” Ask this question

Full meeting report

The complete, section-by-section account of the meeting, 2,190 words, for members.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.