[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6140796,"mediaKeyId","5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c","parentId",5577398,"title","Zoning board opens public hearing for Felipe's Driving School at 471 Eastern Ave; no decision — goes to Planning Board","audioSeconds",836,"startMs",2618000,"endMs",3454000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c&start=2618&end=3454","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c/thumbnail_2618000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6140796/Chelsea-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Zoning-board-opens-public-hearing-for-Felipes-Driving-School-at-471-Eastern-Ave-no-decision-goes-to-Planning-Board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6140796-c9f170692b74170eab4f2ad78f2d3bb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604738&Signature=ImD82nzXqa~zkLNJwrFxbuccnZjABiEhuPL7yWlZp8BsWyiIVNDGRmTi4aspiYK~qHYnt~MyriUWBJ2ms4RMVBmG~u3NS1S~KfD2m8MNL1Ets4ZsF~f4T-twGEcQIKAGpucHkFeqln7GNXmHA9JYASMdRAdgO09q16MMQud0kbxtI49dhrFuV6rkTCwwEzpQYQZ~K4LI-XdGE0-~R0PV5dTccvA66E49~NOMmOvyiLjA33vms5abWfqzHsEH-c~80~6ZCmcHfOfXIAGkuUV-ubGPvXm7g54nUwvyZohsiOaW4QCy9VBZJsWZl1gEIgKFUBx4yIoKO3vhSLziiadyDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Chelsea City, MA","date","2025-08-13T11:06:47Z","article","The Chelsea Zoning Board of Appeals opened a public hearing on an application to establish Felipe's Driving School at 471 Eastern Avenue and did not take a vote. The board left the public record open and scheduled the application to be reviewed by the Planning Board on Aug. 26 and to return to the Zoning Board on Sept. 9.

Attorney David Midland and owner Felipe Aguilera said classes will include in-person classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training. Midland said the state Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has returned to in-person operations, which increases local demand. \"There is no driving school in Chelsea. And there's a need for it. People are very excited about it,\" Midland said.

The Planning Department told the board the building has two existing parking spaces; municipal parking exists on Eastern Avenue and Broadway and most student drop-offs and pick-ups will occur at students' homes, the applicant said. The building owner, Elba Rojas, spoke in support of the school.

Planning staff explained the building inspector had estimated a parking requirement of 29 spaces based on potential classroom occupancy; staff said the applicant expects most students will not arrive by car and that the RMV requires a minimum of 12 students for certain classes. The board asked for hours of operation; applicants proposed weekday hours up to 8 p.m. and weekend daytime hours for some classes, with after-school in-person classes for junior operators.

Because this was the first hearing, the board took no final action. The application will go to the Planning Board for a recommendation and return to the Zoning Board on Sept. 9 for further consideration and a vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Zoning Board of Appeals of 8-12-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Zoning Board opened a public hearing for Felipe's Driving School at 471 Eastern Ave but took no action; the application will go to the Planning Board and return for a decision on Sept. 9.","taxTitle","Chelsea City, Suffolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",78275,"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},6140800,"Board approves special permit for front-yard parking at 157 Congress Ave with landscaping and department sign-off",696,1889000,2585000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c&start=1889&end=2585","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c/thumbnail_1889000.jpg","/articles/6140800/Chelsea-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Board-approves-special-permit-for-front-yard-parking-at-157-Congress-Ave-with-landscaping-and-department-sign-off","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6140800-d9b270b8d3e1fc8f40e28689f0bd8a81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770603941&Signature=Ac50wnZudgPjOwCu2YpMTKuBlYnMGCohFn5LBu99WiuIi9j5vWECK7lHRK1hyqEenbVpNXoVamRABCpsUSNz~ZpNytgDJhK6zZd-FSrfXxIssu-XOu8s017moLz1nv57VJCUnSDcbDiUeowQR5RsbynwUfK~Sskgl31z8Bie~dTnadsemY4E9df~vhh69k3BZNYG~mevPsacj4YUhDF060UAONM6q~oR6a0kbx3xybN3JwmEVypxKsiNxDen0lleLQIK4pNkXZqI17P0qymIqOfMVO1O9DXoJUm323M8L18lMlNHwmsR0Y~hcm46eWFjXHOuVun1qNdVo00qLTBV5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chelsea Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special permit to allow on-site parking within the front-yard setback at 157 Congress Ave for Kitiana Moreno Gough, with conditions intended to limit visual and pedestrian impacts.

The board attached Planning Board-recommended conditions including a fence along the property to the back of the sidewalk, a landscape strip behind that fence, and the use of permeable pavers or pavement. Planning staff and the board added that the Planning Department must review and sign off on the final permeable paving and construction details before work begins.

Applicant Kitiana Moreno Gough presented a plan showing space for up to four parked vehicles and described a driveway configuration intended to permit vehicles to turn on-site rather than reverse into the street. Planning staff said the driveway aisle measures roughly 32–33 feet at the relevant point, noting the city zoning minimum aisle width is 24 feet. The board and staff discussed sight-lines, signage and the fence alignment; staff said the fence should stop at the driveway entrance and meet the existing fence at the corner.

The board voted to approve the special permit with the listed conditions and department approval required prior to construction. The applicant was reminded to submit final plans to the Planning Department before starting work.

Why it matters: The approval changes how the property can be used for parking and aims to reduce on-street parking by allowing defined on-site spaces while requiring landscaping and design controls to limit impact on neighbors.","The Zoning Board approved a special permit allowing parking within the front-yard setback at 157 Congress Ave for Kitiana Moreno Gough, requiring a fence to the back of the sidewalk, a landscape strip, permeable paving and Planning Department approval before construction.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6140805,"Zoning board approves special permit for driveway at 24 Lewis Street with conditions",831,1017000,1848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c&start=1017&end=1848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c/thumbnail_1017000.jpg","/articles/6140805/Chelsea-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Zoning-board-approves-special-permit-for-driveway-at-24-Lewis-Street-with-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6140805-55b2cef4994a9190f2c005ab7d651cf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770641977&Signature=DaCplj0kDJSrjLZCSQWU-9KWqutTKSsxy997slD1hhbpMU9TqHJydj28laEKtNtysBNZHAprCdAbDBemS-AKoo0X~7aBhMvZjOIUHBCTUHMfELSr6oqr-NCgJuPGZch3Jf-ivVshWYAkBODOp2iWoarFQwCIea6fEeGpfHNarDhudk89XK6K4ARetcoXqQbvtYYbfCsPooFk6LNuv2648xvX9X~~pJlmUcfv2Eg2LYsTkofFJndUVlZKW78s6yo-av6ieQwNBWW8dpP0BPh7hNIuiVrWXzK1mleWpXx9eRrq9aaLwDvydBNaBsRLaA7GP9Ygk829CNiBwDGyCMOc5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chelsea Zoning Board of Appeals on a motion approved a special permit for a driveway opening at 24 Lewis Street for Adone (Anani/Adanai) Cortez Amaya, allowing two cars to park in tandem despite setbacks that do not meet the zoning minimums.

The action implements conditions recommended by the Planning Board and the city department: install retaining walls to prevent erosion, submit construction plans to the department before a building permit is issued, use permeable pavers or pavement, and obtain a curb-cut permit from the Department of Public Works.

At the hearing the applicant described the project as a two-car, tandem driveway. \"I'm here for the purpose of seeking approval for a driveway opening for to be able to park 2 cars,\" the applicant said through a Spanish interpreter. Planning staff told the board the parcel is about 100 feet deep and the proposed driveway extends roughly 30–35 feet, long enough for two vehicles in tandem, and recommended the Planning Board's standing conditions be applied.

Board members and staff discussed erosion control and construction materials; the board directed the applicant to work with the Planning Department on retaining walls and material selection before starting work. Planning staff also reminded the applicant that a curb cut must be approved by the Department of Public Works before any driveway work begins.

The board voted to approve the special permit with the conditions described and the added requirement that the applicant apply to DPW for the curb cut and bring final plans to the department before construction. The applicant thanked the board after the vote.

Why it matters: The approval allows on-site parking for a property that otherwise lacks the required front-yard setbacks and could reduce on-street parking demand but requires coordination with DPW and adherence to erosion-control and permeable-surface conditions.","Chelsea Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special permit to open a driveway at 24 Lewis Street to allow two cars to park in tandem, subject to retaining walls, permeable paving and a required DPW curb-cut approval.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6140791,"Applicants seek special permit and variance to add two basement apartments at 1383 Watts Street; hearing continued to Planning Board",111,3673000,3784000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c&start=3673&end=3784","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5577398-a2eab61f7f5aac62ec0b5bce162cf85c/thumbnail_3673000.jpg","/articles/6140791/Chelsea-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Applicants-seek-special-permit-and-variance-to-add-two-basement-apartments-at-1383-Watts-Street-hearing-continued-to-Planning-Board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6140791-8551f8ae30b67571ca8e29f6b06d1f46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770604794&Signature=Y743OH525RzQxicFDBqaLTp8BpVDdC0ja9XTUmMYEGfowk-lPmaF1IgEtuu7BNM3RcAXG63G6j50927K2rbTW0PctEAkY1lrvO08U4JQbynqGF7oS~xNEbKq10sphAKC0p0do-14zv1PDvF7WvBthgBG4B8avplYuBdPda8oEPIndKiNXwje7MOIN8QhPAvIiklsVnLxhdHvxwJ6P9vGuG46DjmsT59UL8oFCJFJGS~zEEIsUVh1jNMRvojGySSQtMI~RTGQZ~daadvn-s5nAvEq-4jGgHIXnH1SrTDlBGhsHbVUURnBfMe0tc0xUV6D3BQIUoa6x460ANad5WC3lQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Zoning Board of Appeals opened a first hearing on an application by Watts Street LLC to create two additional residential apartments in existing basement space at 1383 Watts Street. The board did not vote; the application will go to the Planning Board and return to the Zoning Board on Sept. 9 after Planning Board review.

Attorney Anthony Ross, representing the petitioner, said the plans convert basement storage into two two‑bedroom apartments within the existing building footprint. Manager Rick Costa told the board the units would be entered from the rear and would not change the building's exterior footprint. Ross said the applicant would provide 11 parking spaces; staff said the zoning-required number is 10, so the submitted plan exceeds the requirement.

Ross described unit sizes as approximately 1,700 square feet for one unit and 866 square feet for the other; both were described as two-bedroom units. The board and staff discussed egress, heating systems and condenser placement; the applicants said heating for the new units will use electric mini-split systems with condensers placed on the roof or exterior, and that existing mechanical equipment for other units will not be displaced.

Planning staff noted one of the rear parking spaces may be difficult to use because of maneuverability, but the overall supply remains in excess of the requirement. The board asked about sight-lines and the driveway; the applicant offered to consider measures such as mirrors if needed to improve visibility.

Because this was the initial hearing the board took no final action; the application will proceed to the Planning Board and return for a decision after review.","Watts Street LLC asked the Zoning Board for permission to convert basement storage into two two-bedroom apartments at 1383 Watts Street. The board did not decide and the application goes to the Planning Board; applicants said the project would not change the building footprint and that 11 parking spaces are provided where 10 are required.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Zoning board opens public hearing for Felipe's Driving School at 471 Eastern Ave; no decision — goes to Planning Board

Board approves special permit for front-yard parking at 157 Congress Ave with landscaping and department sign-off

Zoning board approves special permit for driveway at 24 Lewis Street with conditions

Applicants seek special permit and variance to add two basement apartments at 1383 Watts Street; hearing continued to Planning Board