Meeting report · Zoning Board of Appeals
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Zoning Board of Appeals — March 26, 2026
The meeting consisted of standard technical reviews of residential applications with no significant public opposition or internal disagreement noted.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Zoning variance approvals for large residential additions
Approvals for additions exceeding 50% of existing gross floor area and extensions of existing setback violations. Affected: Neighborhood residents near Crest Street and Pond Street
zoning change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approval of special permit for 62 Crest Street (Coulter Contracting LLC on behalf of Corey and Dana Donovan) for an addition exceeding 50% gross floor area.
Motion made by a speaker, seconded by an unnamed member, and passed via roll call.
Approved
Approval of special permit for 36 Pond Street (Dickinson Architects LLC on behalf of Domenic and Richard Amodio) for an addition exceeding 50% gross floor area.
Motion made by a speaker, seconded by an unnamed member, and passed via roll call.
Approved
Continuance of the hearing for 166 Commonwealth Avenue to April 16, 2026.
Motion made by a speaker, seconded by an unnamed member, and passed.
Approved
Approval of meeting minutes from February 12th, 2026.
Motion made by a speaker and passed by voice vote.
Approved
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 01:09 Special Permit: 62 Crest Street Addition
A request for a special permit to construct a 1,089.6 sq. ft. addition to a single-family dwelling on a non-conforming lot, which increases the gross floor area by more than 50%.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Derek Coulter, Stephen Cassettini, Kevin Pickering
▶ 17:07 Special Permit: 36 Pond Street Addition
A request for a special permit to construct an 832 sq. ft. addition to a single-family dwelling on a non-conforming lot, increasing the gross floor area by approximately 60% and extending an existing wall over the setback.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Nancy Dickinson
▶ 32:09 Special Permit: 166 Commonwealth Avenue Renovation
A request to renovate an existing gas station and make associated site improvements in a conservation flood plain. The applicant requested a continuance.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 35:40 Administrative Business: Meeting Minutes and Novo Building
Approval of February 12th meeting minutes and a discussion regarding minor architectural modifications to the Novo building to be presented at a future meeting.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Significant Gross Floor Area Increases on Non-Conforming Lots
Both the 62 Crest Street and 36 Pond Street applications involved increasing the gross floor area of single-family dwellings by over 50% (60% in one case) on non-conforming lots. Such significant deviations from standard zoning bylaws often raise concerns regarding neighborhood character, density, and setback compliance.
Board position: The board approved both requests, viewing the projects as necessary modernizations or ways for residents to 'age in place'.
low concern
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Provide a presentation regarding minor architectural modifications (balcony shifts and interior changes) at the next meeting.
Assigned: Novo Building representatives · Due: Next meeting (approx. 3 weeks)
Sign meeting minutes.
Assigned: a speaker/Town Staff
Notable statements
The addition is focused on a second level on the one-story piece that... needed to be torn out for some structural reasons. — Stephen Cassettini · Explaining the necessity of the project at 62 Crest Street. ▶ 05:47
I think this is a good way it's like a compromise of taking the existing house and then making it work for modern standards, even though... it's not as big as some things we look at. — Unidentified speaker · Commenting on the suitability of the Crest Street addition for the neighborhood. ▶ 13:40
The small original house needs to be brought up... you're going to exceed 50%, but the volume you're talking about is well within if not smaller than some of the houses adjoining. — Stephen Newbold · Discussing the Pond Street application. ▶ 30:10
Member positions
1 issues · 0 explicit · 0 inferred
Present
Special Permit: 36 Pond Street Addition
YES
✓
Supports as reasonable modernization within neighborhood scale
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position.
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
3
Total speakers
3
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Derek Coulter
Addressed
Representing the owners of 62 Crest Street, he explained the need for a special permit to add approximately 1,000 square feet to their home. He noted the addition is necessary to bring the aging structure up to code and make it a livable forever home for the family.
Key concern
Obtaining a special permit for a gross floor area increase of more than 50% on a non-conforming lot.
Board responseThe board asked clarifying questions regarding setbacks and confirmed the project's compatibility with the neighborhood before approving the motion.
The board engaged with the applicant's explanation, asked technical questions about side yard setbacks, and ultimately voted to approve the special permit.
Stephen Cassettini
Addressed
The architect provided technical details regarding the design, focusing on the second-level addition and 'saddlebag' plumbing area. He emphasized that the design uses existing forms to blend into the neighborhood and addresses structural and energy conservation needs.
Key concern
Providing technical justification for the architectural design, scale, and materials of the proposed addition.
Board responseThe board members asked for clarification on the side yard setback and the implications of the 'borrow rule' regarding building height and distance.
The architect's technical presentation was directly used by the board to evaluate the application and confirm compliance with zoning bylaws.
Nancy Dickinson
Addressed
Representing the owners of 36 Pond Street, she explained that the addition is intended to help the owners 'age in place' by adding a family room and a master bedroom. She also noted the need for a special permit because the addition extends an existing wall that is already over the setback.
Key concern
Obtaining a special permit for a 60% gross floor area increase and an extension of an existing setback violation.
Board responseThe board asked questions regarding privacy (windows looking into neighbors' homes), the impact of removing a garage, and the design for aging in place.
The board discussed the specific technical and lifestyle aspects mentioned by the architect and then voted to approve the permit.
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Report composed by
gemma-4-26b, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-25.