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Meeting report · Zoning Board of Appeals
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Zoning Board of Appeals — June 15, 2026

The session consisted of standard procedural continuances driven by member absence plus one uncontested variance approval.

Date Monday, June 15, 2026 Duration 0.3h Speakers 7 Public comments 3 Decisions 4 Routine
▶ Video
Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting title slide with gavel icon Video still
Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting title slide with gavel icon Frame from meeting video ▶ 20:37

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
77 Margin Street ADU setback variance approved
Roll-call vote after motion and second.
4-0 (O'Brien, Bakula, Bacardi, Gallugi)
17 Murdoch Drive continued to July 20
Motion to continue granted.
Unanimous
256 Newbury Street remand continued to July 20
Motion to table granted.
Unanimous
May 18 minutes accepted
Motion and second; all in favor.
Unanimous

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:32 Four Meredith Road continuation

Case continued to July 20th due to absence of fifth board member.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
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What was discussed

Chair announced at opening that the Four Meredith Road matter was continued because the board lacked a full five-member quorum.

What happened

Public notice given; no presentation or vote occurred.

What's next

Scheduled for July 20th meeting.

▶ 10:56 77 Margin Street variance (Gabriel)

Application for side-yard setback relief for proposed ADU (garage request withdrawn). Approved 4-0.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
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What was discussed

Petitioner sought 4.8 ft side setback instead of required 15 ft for one-story ADU; neighbor letter of support read into record. Board confirmed only ADU setback remained on docket.

What happened

Motion to approve passed by roll-call vote of four members present.

What's next

20-day appeal period begins after filing with city clerk.

▶ 20:37 17 Murdoch Drive variance (Ruas)

Pool cabana size variance request; continued to July meeting.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
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What was discussed

Applicant requested continuance until fifth member arrived rather than proceed with four-member board requiring unanimous approval.

What happened

Board granted continuance after brief recess.

What's next

July 20th meeting.

▶ 30:06 256 Newbury Street remand

Superior Court remand continued to July 20th.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
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What was discussed

Parties declined to proceed without fifth member; board offered option to wait or continue.

What happened

Continuance granted by motion.

What's next

July 20th meeting.

▶ 32:15 Minutes acceptance and adjournment

May 18 minutes approved; meeting adjourned with next session July 20.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
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What was discussed

Standard closing business only.

What happened

Minutes accepted; meeting ended.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

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

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Hear continued cases (Meredith, Murdoch, Newbury) at next meeting
Assigned: Board · Due: July 20, 2026

Notable ⁠statements

With only four members present, applicants need four yes votes; one no means denial. — Unidentified speaker · Opening procedural remarks ▶ 07:09
Board does not make zoning rules but must abide by existing ordinances; excessive relief requests cannot be approved. — Unidentified speaker · Explanation of board role to applicants ▶ 08:27

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
3
Total speakers
3
Addressed
0
Partial
0
Not addressed
Jason Bailey
▶ 10:06
Addressed
Jason Bailey, applicant for 77 Margin Street, requested a variance to allow an ADU with a reduced side-yard setback of 4.8 feet instead of the required 15 feet. He noted that neighbors had approved the plan, the ADU would remain under 900 square feet, and the encroachment was limited to one back corner of the lot. Key concern
Approval of side-yard setback variance for proposed ADU
Board response
Board members asked clarifying questions about the structure (one-story, deck location) and then unanimously approved the variance via roll-call vote.
Board directly considered and granted the requested variance after public comment and discussion.
Richard Campo
▶ 13:35
Addressed
Richard Campo, general contractor for the 17 Murdoch Drive pool-cabana application, requested either to wait for the fifth board member or to continue the matter so a full board could hear the case. Key concern
Request for continuance due to four-member board composition
Board response
Board agreed to a five-minute recess, then granted a continuance to the July meeting after confirming the fifth member would not arrive.
Board honored the continuance request and rescheduled the hearing.
Unidentified speaker
▶ 18:16
Addressed
Representative for the 256 Newbury Street remand case stated a preference not to proceed with only four board members and requested a continuance to the July meeting. Key concern
Request for continuance due to four-member board composition
Board response
Board granted the continuance to July 20 after attempting to contact the absent member.
Board accepted the continuance request and rescheduled the matter.
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Report composed by grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-20.