[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6058086,"mediaKeyId","3298077-f4fe746838e649195c68f50536215e57","parentId",3298077,"title","Lowell ZBA continues variance request for paving at 84 Walker Street to June 9","audioSeconds",1532,"startMs",741000,"endMs",2273000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3298077-f4fe746838e649195c68f50536215e57&start=741&end=2273","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3298077-f4fe746838e649195c68f50536215e57/thumbnail_741000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6058086/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Lowell-ZBA-continues-variance-request-for-paving-at-84-Walker-Street-to-June-9","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058086-00332fc8e3e30550df47804d6b956225/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165075&Signature=abFzQvjhKNxXw1Tw5~o~bNkB5tEZ2O5bcPKXwmsoZLVDLc6Jlb-ZwpeJebkXDA1rXO1PC~Fx6Y-vuc96R60-zsbSEukZfMurtWliIC9hicaXdhnH44Jxi5VluSJBfPCvSh7pyDkhoPGAS5q4DBIm8b~2H3nZVyI-0xy3pFhwTCzF2f8UvOYVpKNvDuDYIQIhWHbh-UeUkz6fyOL6P8Q72t58zE17hhf2NpVYvoCWvwO~miMdistyKAPo-SbtXr~IYm5kXNatFY~a-cbCaYVMfxcwqaGS7ezrG7eAzptRI4hLoTFHX0A4BzCN9qf7xjh~Dz00LG1GR8uKPFfXgl4c3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lowell City, MA","date","2025-05-13T11:14:55Z","article","The Lowell City Zoning Board of Appeals continued to June 9 the petition by the owner of 84 Walker Street seeking permission to add paving and a driveway area at the rear of the building. The board directed the applicant to provide a clarified site plan with dimensions, confirm access rights to Litchfield Terrace and review comments from city departments before the board considers approval.

The applicant, identified in the record as Peter Dendromeris, said the work is intended to “clean up an area that tends to retain water and mud” and that he was not seeking additional parking. He told the board, “We're not looking to add additional parking. That was the original intent. We measured there isn't enough room for additional parking.”

A neighbor, Johanna Delamez of 42 Litchfield Terrace, objected during public comment, saying, “There has never been a driveway on Walker Street. I've lived there all my life,” and asserting that Litchfield Terrace is a privately owned horseshoe street used by six houses and that the applicants might not have rights to access it. Delamez said a permit notice describing an expanded paved area was inaccurate because, in her view, no paved driveway has existed there.

Board members raised multiple procedural and technical deficiencies in the submission. Member McCarthy noted the application lacked a parking‑layout plan and dimensions and explained why that matters: “A parking space is 18 feet, and it requires 3 feet of green space up against the building,” and the property has only about 16 feet from property line to foundation, which he said may prevent conforming parking. He said the submittal did not show a curb cut or the exact dimensions and advised the applicant to prepare a plan showing the proposed layout and any relief sought.

Members also asked staff to clarify whether Litchfield Terrace is a private way and whether the owner of 84 Walker Street has legal rights to use it for a driveway or curb cut. The board pointed to project review comments from DPD noting stormwater and urban‑heat concerns and recommending consideration of permeable paving and additional landscaping; members said the applicant should address those comments in revised plans.

After discussion, Member McCarthy moved to continue ZBA‑2025‑17 to the board's June 9 meeting; the motion was seconded by the vice chair. The roll call vote to continue was recorded as unanimous. The board asked the applicant to submit a dimensioned site plan showing the total paved area, indicate whether proposed paved areas are to be used for active parking or storage, confirm rights of access to Litchfield Terrace with city engineering, and review DPD recommendations on permeable materials and tree planting prior to the continued hearing.

The board emphasized that if the applicant does not have legal access to Litchfield Terrace or cannot secure a curb cut, the board cannot grant a variance that would permit use of another party’s private way. The continuation gives the applicant time to produce the requested documentation and to consult with city engineering and DPD staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lowell Zoning Board of Appeals - May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After public opposition and multiple staff concerns about dimensions, access and stormwater, the Zoning Board continued a variance request to allow paving at 84 Walker Street so the applicant can provide detailed plans and clarifications about access to Litchfield Terrace.","taxTitle","Lowell City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4223,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6058092,"Lowell ZBA approves variance to enclose front porch at 73 Inland Street",658,71000,729000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3298077-f4fe746838e649195c68f50536215e57&start=71&end=729","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3298077-f4fe746838e649195c68f50536215e57/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6058092/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Lowell-ZBA-approves-variance-to-enclose-front-porch-at-73-Inland-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6058092-61887a81525570e97d5d025c74adf86b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165074&Signature=dXkEvZOgBREiW6Q9-laH7MWpo9nBg8ilWEgBjD8Vw1QiEqPr2dCSUVgGzexx4jzKQqz3ssaLruM5~9NswtHiMHrIzcQEhuf3jN0MRMEJbDR27Too9BkiCPyfSBxU2sT~5FLhWMSlLMYm-3ur8OA7h11PJfb5RUAT4AK-umGsrTYlfFpAxMjuQvVz4m4NxuKgfoLCE9EJvkm3nVz48pqNELzPxnMcM6G-YD7tvW2CdsxfIExz7FhCrTFTQPUzi18GgogePLXnRmH1hRo1xRv5a3Vu083Pp~rF~Lac3LHUSzn9-JRA3rmiwHqN9ZNgTnXrivek7At~6CzbYoy32PVVGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lowell City Zoning Board of Appeals on May 12 approved a variance allowing the property owner at 73 Inland Street to enclose the existing front porch, granting relief from the Lowell zoning ordinance on maximum floor‑area ratio and front‑yard setback with a condition that the application be amended to include scaled drawings submitted at the hearing.

The variance (ZBA‑2025‑4) was moved by Member McCarthy and seconded by Member Prokop; the board’s roll call recorded unanimous approval by Chairman Peck, Vice Chair Callahan, Member McCarthy, Member Bridal, Member Prokop and Member Hovey. The motion included the condition that the application be amended to include the drawing provided at the May 12 hearing (submitted 05/12/2025).

Board members said the applicant had worked with the building department and that Building Commissioner David Fuller’s memo showed the applicant had satisfied previously stated requirements. Member Prokop told the applicant, “I appreciate the work that you did working with the building commissioner,” and noted the updated scale drawing submitted at the meeting. Member McCarthy said the request was small and that, based on the building commissioner’s report, he could “look favorably on this.”

McCarthy also warned the applicant that aspects of the stair design appeared noncompliant. “Your stair design doesn't work per code. So what you have there puts you in the right of way with egress,” McCarthy said, and advised the owner to ensure a code‑compliant means of egress that does not discharge into a hazard such as a driveway. Several board members made approval conditional on submitting the complete paperwork to DPD (Department of Planning and Development) and obtaining any required building permits before work begins.

The petition requested relief under the Lowell Zoning Ordinance for maximum floor‑area ratio and front‑yard setback and asked for “any other relief required.” The applicant told the board they provided updated scaled drawings for the porch at the hearing and had previously met with Commissioner Fuller and DPD staff. The applicant confirmed the porch enclosure would include the roof and siding and that the existing stair configuration has seven risers.

The board’s action was limited to the variance request; members noted that a separate building permit will be required and that the applicant may need to return if additional relief is necessary. The board closed the public hearing with no speakers in favor or opposition prior to taking its vote.

The file will be amended to include the scaled drawings presented at the hearing; work remains subject to issuance of any required building permits and compliance with the building code.","The Lowell Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously May 12 to grant a variance allowing the enclosure of the front porch at 73 Inland Street, conditioned on submission of scaled drawings provided at the hearing and standard building permits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lowell ZBA continues variance request for paving at 84 Walker Street to June 9

Lowell ZBA approves variance to enclose front porch at 73 Inland Street