MeetingWatch
Your area Not set — showing everywhere
Meeting report · Zoning Board of Appeals
Creating this report cost real money. Help fund coverage →

Zoning Board of Appeals — April 13, 2026

While the board was unified in its decisions, there was palpable community concern and active questioning regarding the impact of a commercial car dealership on neighborhood safety.

Date Monday, April 13, 2026 Duration 1.5h Speakers 19 Public comments 2 Decisions 6 Mildly contentious
▶ Video

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Commercial vehicle use at 1570 Middlesex Street

Potential increase in street parking congestion and changes to neighborhood traffic safety/drainage. Affected: Local residents near Middlesex Street and Caleb Street
zoning change

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approval of ZBA-2026-3 (Special Permit for 1570 Middlesex Street) with four conditions.
Conditions: 1) Update site plan with striping to delineate property line from sidewalk/right-of-way. 2) Update site plan to indicate two visitor parking spaces and one employee parking space with striping and signage. 3) Provide off-site snow removal. 4) Conduct a 6-month administrative review.
Approved
Approval of ZBA-2026-9 (Variance for 35 Bryan Road) with five conditions.
Conditions: 1) Update site plan showing proposed driveway not exceeding 20 feet. 2) Retain existing front yard tree. 3) Address Engineering Department concerns. 4) Comply with Fire Department comments. 5) Submit a utility plan prior to obtaining a building permit.
Approved
Approval of ZBA 2015 (35 Prospect Street) for driveway and setback relief.
Motion by McCarthy, seconded by Prokop. Approved with the condition that the applicant shall address the engineering department's concerns subject to their approval.
Approved
Approval of ZBA 2014 (49 Sparks Street, Lot A) for multiple zoning variances.
Motion by McCarthy, seconded by Vice Chairman Scallion (noted as 'pro cope' in transcript). Unanimous approval.
Approved
Approval of meeting minutes from March 23, 2026.
Motion by McCarthy, seconded by unnamed member.
Unanimous Approval
Adjournment of the meeting.
Motion by McCarthy, seconded by Prokop.
Unanimous

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 01:03 ZBA-2026-3: Special Permit for Outdoor Car Dealership

A request by Benito Chalas to operate an outdoor car dealership at 1570 Middlesex Street, including relief from minimum access drive requirements. Discussion included concerns from neighbors regarding street parking, snow removal, and sidewalk delineation.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 35:41 ZBA-2026-9: Variance for Residential Addition

A request for a front yard setback variance to construct an addition at 35 Bryan Road to accommodate intergenerational housing. The applicant provided detailed survey information and received support from adjacent neighbors.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 52:20 ZBA-2016: Variance for Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR)

An application by 394 Woburn Street, LLC to construct an addition. The request for FAR relief arose because architectural documents for a second-floor bathroom installation increased the total floor area beyond previous limits.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 555:11 ZBA-2015: Variance for Driveway and Curb Cut

A request by Mary Sifoti to create a driveway and curb cut at 35 Prospect Street to provide safe off-street parking on a narrow one-way street and allow access to the side/back yard. The board discussed relief for minimum driveway curb cut and pavement setback, focusing on site-specific issues like a PVC exhaust pipe, drainage, and the stability of a retaining wall.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 89:00 ZBA 2014: Variance for 49 Sparks Street, Lot A

A request to construct a single-family home on a triangular-shaped vacant lot. Variances were requested for lot area, lot area per dwelling unit, front yard setback, maximum floor area ratio, and maximum curb cut.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 144:00 Approval of March 23, 2026 Minutes

The board reviewed and voted on the approval of the previous meeting minutes.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Special Permit for Outdoor Car Dealership (1570 Middlesex Street)

Neighbors expressed significant concerns regarding neighborhood safety, street parking congestion, drainage, and the potential for oil leaks and runoff from a commercial vehicle operation in a residential-adjacent area.
Board position: The board approved the permit but implemented four specific mitigating conditions to address community concerns.
medium concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Resubmit updated site plans showing specific striping for property delineation and designated visitor/employee parking.
Assigned: Benito Chalas (Applicant for 1570 Middlesex Street)
Incorporate an as-built survey of the foundation and new driveway into the site plan.
Assigned: David Bukela/Heather Lindberg (Applicants for 35 Bryan Road)
Address engineering department concerns regarding the site (specifically the retaining wall and drainage) subject to engineering department approval before construction.
Assigned: Applicant (35 Prospect Street) · Due: Prior to construction

Notable ⁠statements

The current used car dealership across the street is brutal... parking cars on the street makes turning into Caleb Street dangerous. — Amy Hughes (Abutter) · Expressing opposition/concerns regarding the impact of existing car dealerships on neighborhood safety and street maintenance. ▶ 03:38
The proposed addition will help tremendously in giving them more space... Intergenerational housing is growing in popularity. — Steve Paquette (Representative for 35 Bryan Road) · Justifying the variance request based on the needs of the family living in the home. ▶ 37:50
I'd like to make that a condition that the applicant shall address the engineering department concerns subject to the approval from the engineering department. — SPEAKER_01 (Mr. McCarthy) · Proposing a condition for the 35 Prospect Street variance due to concerns regarding the retaining wall. ▶ 102:57
— SPEAKER_05 (John Geary) · Presenting the case for the 49 Sparks Street variances. ▶ 128:25

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
2
Total speakers
2
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Benito Chalas
▶ 02:12
Addressed
The applicant provided an update on his project to create a small car dealership at the location. He explained that he intends to focus on high-end vehicle exportation to the Dominican Republic and noted that he has provided drawings for customer parking. Key concern
Provide project updates and clarify parking availability for customers.
Board response
The board asked several follow-up questions regarding snow removal, car washing, sidewalk delineation, and parking logistics, eventually imposing several conditions on the permit.
The board engaged with his updates and incorporated his verbal promises (like striping and snow removal) into the formal conditions of the approval.
Amy Hughes
▶ 03:34
Addressed
Ms. Hughes expressed concerns regarding a nearby existing dealership that negatively impacts her street. She raised issues about dangerous street parking, snow removal logistics, potential water runoff/car washing, oil leaks, and the lack of sidewalk delineation. Key concern
Impact of a new car dealership on neighborhood safety, street maintenance, drainage, and sidewalk access.
Board response
The board members addressed her concerns by questioning the applicant about snow removal, car washing, and sidewalk striping, and subsequently added specific conditions to the permit to mitigate these issues.
The board directly translated her concerns into legal conditions for the permit, specifically requiring site plan updates for striping, off-site snow removal, and a 6-month administrative review.
Support coverage

Creating this report cost ⁠real money.

MeetingWatch attended, transcribed, and analyzed this meeting on its own dime. If this work is valuable to you, chip in to keep covering Lowell.

Report composed by gemma-4-26b, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-25.