Zoning Board of Adjustment — April 21, 2026
A public hearing attracted seven speakers on a single variance case and the board added an off-agenda review of 2024 minutes, but the board remained unified in its decision.
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At its April 21 meeting, the Andover Zoning Board of Adjustment added an unlisted item to the agenda: review of reconstructed 2024 minutes for a Vertex Communications cell tower special exception. The Land Use office brought the records forward after building permits were submitted. The board accepted them for review by consensus and scheduled further discussion for the next meeting.
No prior notice was given that this 2024 matter would be taken up, so residents had no opportunity to examine the original lease condition or prepare comments. The meeting also held the scheduled public hearing on Mary Jurta's request for three variances to subdivide the 2.93-acre lot at 91 Maple Street. After seven residents spoke about septic suitability, depth-to-width ratios, and preservation of rural zoning character, the board found no qualifying hardship and rejected the application unanimously.
Topics discussed
Public hearing on variances to subdivide 2.93-acre lot at 91 Maple St. into 2.08- and 0.85-acre parcels.
Public hearing closed at 7:34 PM. Board found no qualifying hardship and that proposal failed variance criteria and spirit of ordinance. Dickinson moved to reject; Newcomb seconded; unanimous approval.
Jurta informed she may appeal to State Housing Review Board with Land Use office assistance.
Land Use office presented reconstructed minutes from 2024 special exception for cell towers.
Board accepted the reconstructed minutes for review but deferred discussion.
Board will review and discuss at next meeting.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Mary Jurta lot subdivision variance request
Community vs. board tension
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Member positions
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”
Accountability flags
Agenda items not discussed
Topics discussed — not on agenda
Transcript vs. official minutes
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grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-21.
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