Zoning Board of Adjustment — June 16, 2026
Standard variance and rehearing items were handled efficiently with public input addressed and no evident disagreement.
Public impact
Governor's Crossing duplex variance
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Phase-two lots face high blasting costs; duplexes were presented as a way to complete stalled development while providing more affordable ownership options with similar footprint and style
Variance approved unanimously; project must return to Planning Board for site-plan amendment
Planning Board site-plan amendment required
238 White Oaks Road Development
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Buyer emerged to restore the existing home; revised plan carving out one lot for the home was submitted and appeared well-received by abutters
Rehearing request tabled for 60 days
Matter returns in approximately 60 days or is withdrawn if alternative plan proceeds
Decisions logged
Topics discussed
▶ 00:02 Roll call, agenda adjustments, and initial procedures
Board conducted roll call, designated alternate voting members to achieve a full board, and reordered the agenda to prioritize 238 White Oaks Road, 257 Pleasant Street, 398 White Oaks Road, 3114 Parade Road, 1034 Main Street, and a rehearing.
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Roll call confirmed members including Eric Kaufman, Nicole Arsenal, Marcia Hayward, Deborah Cheney, Tara Surell, Robert Mora, Tyler Carmichael, and chair Grayson Draper. Tim was seated as a voting member. The agenda was reordered with 238 White Oaks Road moved first.
Agenda order finalized; meeting proceeded with the revised sequence.
▶ 00:53 Rehearing request (238 White Oaks Road area)
Attorney Cornyn requested tabling of a rehearing for 60 days after a buyer emerged to restore the existing home, reducing the project from five lots to two.
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Developments allowed salvaging the existing home; a revised plan carving out one lot for the home and creating two new lots was submitted and appeared well-received by abutters.
Motion to table for 60 days passed unanimously.
Matter returns in approximately 60 days or is withdrawn if the alternative plan is approved.
▶ 05:36 257 Pleasant Street fence variance (ZB 2026-61)
Applicant Christine Kemos sought a variance for an 88-ft, 6-ft-tall fence along the side property line on a corner lot for child safety; approved with DPW site review condition.
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The fence is needed for a secure play area for 3-year-old twins; it is set back 15-16 ft from Oak Street with no sight-line obstruction at the intersection. Board clarified that the variance addresses the front-setback height limit (4 ft allowed, 6 ft requested) and confirmed no conflict with intersection rules.
Variance granted with DPW site-review condition for line-of-sight safety.
Applicant must obtain DPW site review before installation.
▶ 17:58 398 White Oaks Road storage containers variance
Steven Duty requested a variance to retain two existing conex boxes on a 4-acre residential property; approved with shielding condition.
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Containers have been on site 5 years, 435 ft from the road and screened by elevation and vegetation; board discussed consistency with future requests and aesthetics.
Variance approved with condition that containers remain shielded from view of abutters and the road.
▶ 27:07 Governor's Crossing duplex variance
Attorney John Cronin presented a request to allow duplex units on 13 lots within the Governor's Crossing HOA subdivision instead of single-family homes.
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Phase-two lots face high blasting costs; duplexes would provide more affordable housing (approx. $450-500k) while maintaining similar footprint and architectural style. Variance would require subsequent planning-board site-plan amendment.
Variance approved; findings of fact accepted as presented in the application.
Project returns to Planning Board for site-plan amendment.
▶ 39:05 3114 Parade Road fence variance (ZB 2026-63)
John Healey requested a 6-ft privacy fence along the front property line, 15-16 ft from the roadway edge on a busy road.
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Fence would improve privacy and reduce road noise; 15-ft setback plus driveway slope provides adequate sight lines.
Variance granted; board found no safety or character impacts.
▶ 44:27 1034 Main Street carport variance (ZB 2026-64)
Dennis Breton sought a 2-ft side-setback variance to construct a carport 8 ft from the neighbor's property line.
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Carport would protect a vehicle; neighbor provided verbal agreement. Site constraints (rocks) may affect feasibility.
Variance granted.
▶ 48:00 Rehearing request for 604 Endicott Street East
Board considered a rehearing request on application ZB 2026-060 with no new information presented.
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No new facts or changes since prior hearing; members expressed no need to rehear.
Rehearing request denied unanimously.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
238 White Oaks Road subdivision rehearing
Action items
Notable statements
We are not changing the character of the neighborhood; substantial justice is done because there is no benefit to the public that outweighs the benefit to the owner. — Grayson Draper · Findings of fact supporting 257 Pleasant Street variance ▶ 16:55
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.”
Public comment
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grok-4.3, grok-4-fast, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-06-22.