Meeting report · Zoning Board of Appeals
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Zoning Board of Appeals — April 27, 2026
The meeting featured direct opposition from abutters regarding property safety and neighborhood parking infrastructure, though the board remained professional and procedural.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Increased density and parking scarcity at University Avenue
Significant increase in residential density (up to 12 units in one project) without dedicated parking infrastructure. Affected: Residents and business owners in the University Avenue corridor
zoning change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approval of ZBA-2013 (297 University Ave) for variances regarding stories, open space, and lot area per unit.
Approval is subject to: 1) Applicant working with DPD to provide landscaping and/or fencing along the northern property line. 2) Final revised plans must be submitted to the engineering division for review and approval prior to construction.
Approved with conditions
Approval of ZBA-2012 (69 Baltimore Ave) for FAR and side yard setback variances.
Applicant must resubmit a site plan to correctly show the FAR as existing at .64 and proposed at .71.
Approved with conditions
Continuance of ZBA 2011 (123 University Ave)
The board voted to continue the matter to June 8, 2026, to allow the petitioner to develop a parking contingency plan or scale back the project.
Unanimous Approval
Approval of April 13, 2026 Meeting Minutes
The minutes for the April 13 meeting were approved without edits.
Unanimous Approval
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 01:08 ZBA-2013: 297 University Avenue Redevelopment
A petition by Cassandian Enterprise Inc. to convert an eight-bay garage into a four-unit residential townhouse condominium, seeking variances for maximum stories, minimum usable open space, and minimum lot area per unit.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 45:40 ZBA-2012: 69 Baltimore Avenue Addition
A petition by Dan Tenzar to construct a first-floor master bedroom addition to accommodate aging in place, seeking variances for floor area ratio (FAR) and minimum side yard setback.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 59:00 ZBA-2011: 123 University Avenue Redevelopment
A petition by TLGLE LLC to convert an existing building into two ground-floor commercial units and 12 studio apartments, seeking a variance for minimum parking requirements. The primary point of contention is the lack of off-site parking arrangements and the impact of increased density on the surrounding neighborhood.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 86:54 Approval of Meeting Minutes
The board reviewed and approved the meeting minutes from April 13, 2026.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
123 University Avenue Redevelopment (ZBA-2011)
The project proposes 12 studio apartments and 2 commercial units without sufficient off-site parking, raising fears about increased density and parking scarcity in the neighborhood.
Board position: Cautious/Deferential; the board required the developer to provide a parking contingency plan or scale back the project.
high concern
02
297 University Avenue Redevelopment (ZBA-2013)
An abutter (a speaker) expressed significant anxiety regarding property damage, drainage, and vehicle collisions involving his historic garage/shop due to the new driveway.
Board position: Supportive with mitigations; approved the variances subject to landscaping and engineering review.
medium concern
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Work with DPD to develop landscaping and/or fencing for the northern property line (297 University Ave).
Assigned: Cassandian Enterprise Inc. (Applicant)
Submit final revised plans to the engineering division for review and approval prior to construction (297 University Ave).
Assigned: Cassandian Enterprise Inc. (Applicant) · Due: Prior to construction
Resubmit site plan for 69 Baltimore Ave to correctly reflect the FAR calculations.
Assigned: Dan Tenzar (Applicant)
Revamp the development plan to include alternative parking arrangements or consider scaling back the number of units.
Assigned: Petitioner (Mr. Chan/Grant) · Due: June 8, 2026
Keep the board updated on the Zoning Audit Steering Committee process.
Assigned: Vice Chairman Callahan
Notable statements
I'd like to have them install a steel guardrail in front of my building... if they do that, that would almost appease me. — Unidentified speaker · Abutter expressing concern about vehicles from the new driveway hitting his historic garage/shop. ▶ 20:08
I think we can solve the privacy concerns with some landscaping screening along the back of the property. — Unidentified speaker · Board member suggesting a way to mitigate neighbor concerns for the 297 University Ave project. ▶ 33:41
It achieves the triple crown of housing development. We get much needed housing stock, we get the additional tax revenue... and an enhancement of the streetscape. — Unidentified speaker · Board member expressing strong support for the 297 University Ave project. ▶ 49:00
I'm glad you recognize that parking is the elephant in the room here. — SPEAKER_13 (Mr. McCarthy) · Highlighting the central conflict regarding the project's lack of parking provisions. ▶ 69:01
Being on two stories is probably not a great idea for my wife and I long term. — Unidentified speaker · Applicant explaining the necessity of the addition at 69 Baltimore Ave due to mobility/aging in place. ▶ 77:21
One of the points was it increases the housing stock, but it increases the student housing stock, which doesn't necessarily help with the city's issues. — SPEAKER_08 (Mr. Hovey) · Expressing skepticism about the utility of adding more student-specific housing without addressing infrastructure. ▶ 75:43
I am in favor of more housing. I think student housing is as important as residential, like homeowner housing, all that. — SPEAKER_14 (Chairman) · Clarifying his position that he supports the project's goal but objects to the current lack of parking mitigation. ▶ 83:39
Parking is a tremendous problem over there... I can't imagine 12 more units across the street that's gonna go in there. — Unidentified speaker · Abutter opposing the 123 University Ave project due to concerns over student parking impacts. ▶ 108:34
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
1
Total speakers
0
Addressed
0
Partial
1
Not addressed
Speaker SPEAKER_02
Not addressed
The speaker expressed significant anxiety regarding the proximity of the proposed townhouse development to his historic family property. He is concerned that the new driveway and parking will lead to vehicle collisions, improper snow removal against his garages, drainage issues, and trespassing.
Key concern
Protection of personal property from physical damage caused by vehicle traffic, snow plowing, and water runoff from the new development.
Board responseThe Chair thanked the speaker for sharing his concerns but did not offer a specific solution or decision during this portion of the meeting.
The board acknowledged the speaker by thanking him, but the transcript ends before any deliberation or specific response to his requests (such as the request for a steel guardrail) occurred.
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Report composed by
gemma-4-26b, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-25.