[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",5979473,"mediaKeyId","5789280-546fffdbdd899cc661f2df23426fcff5","parentId",5789280,"title","Gardner ZBA schedules member training at Greenfield Community College; no formal site-visit vote needed","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1257950,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5789280-546fffdbdd899cc661f2df23426fcff5&start=1257&end=1257","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5789280-546fffdbdd899cc661f2df23426fcff5/thumbnail_1257950.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5979473/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Gardner-ZBA-schedules-member-training-at-Greenfield-Community-College-no-formal-site-visit-vote-needed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979473-825c8581f09331e51b7c5d814d295e42/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172000&Signature=Riz08jVfVfeBteorDqaV5QIYSAYnF0Ci5BgR-IXTCEucomKuGg~VdwRsgzItm2EMtpSA21MpbhKedMAGQKtBqzJ6dI2HrDAtUiQ-GKP27MNh7sH0NP4MechAGqjJuOeIJFCnJe4A3UjHUAjWK23rtm0EcAY0DBFT7niHFAYKdKWmiSAn-6TMWz3DX7dw9Zync~LabEqXYGHvtSSAITAXrbU5aG1F~m6kXbw6Xso77z1bNTFq1~Crwmwn8GFau3LqOPnyRiuCTcA312c8980MZcV0A1I-DM~oy-avFbf~NoV-UQJby3EqWwDWT256b6LcPcGClsGGUbSlki1KU330AA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Gardner Massachusetts","date","2025-09-18T00:01:15Z","article","The Gardner Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 16 encouraged members to attend an upcoming training at Greenfield Community College and confirmed that a recent Emerald Street site visit did not require a formal board vote.

Chair Raymond Lafond told members Mariela in the zoning office would coordinate attendees for the session, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lafond said, \"There's no cost to you. The city is gonna put the tab. It's $50.\" He described the training topics as \"roles and responsibilities of planning zoning boards, site plan review, planning with community support\" and emphasized \"reasonable and defensible decisions\" as a key focus.

Board members noted the session will include a breakfast and that the city will cover the registration fee. Construction of a carpool plan for attendees was discussed to limit vehicle use. The new building commissioner, Melissa McDonald, indicated she planned to attend.

Separately, members reviewed a staff summary of an Emerald Street site visit assembled by Member Cornett and concluded no formal vote on the site visit was needed. The summary listed dates and observations from that inspection; members who attended reported they did not need to hold an additional on-site vote to record those observations in the file.

The board asked interested members to notify Mariela and the chair by the Friday before the training so staff could finalize arrangements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gardner Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Sep 16 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members were encouraged to sign up for a zoning training session at Greenfield Community College on Oct. 4; the board confirmed no vote was required for a recent Emerald Street site visit.","taxTitle","Gardner City, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",60679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},5979479,"Gardner ZBA denies outside buyer—applications tied to 63 Walnut Street after owner revokes authorization",491,82605,573895,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5789280-546fffdbdd899cc661f2df23426fcff5&start=82&end=573","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5789280-546fffdbdd899cc661f2df23426fcff5/thumbnail_82605.jpg","/articles/5979479/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Gardner-ZBA-denies-outside-buyerapplications-tied-to-63-Walnut-Street-after-owner-revokes-authorization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979479-93b69fe0ef4ca3f5de9faa3a9577e394/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172000&Signature=kNE~ROTmw0Ok23U86aCZAdvzmqpAKBuQSGUGMVy2ZPnIyMZdSJWvznwO5Hw22M6gvfsyQXAXxZNGQIUAj7loRHOhK5djHJUVwPLbHMvkdkJxOfLACIA69WlTThP6prR8pZOmel4ig5XuwuGLaTiT4BSVbq~Wt9AkGVrOEG6wOHzNewSjnYNv9-ZS6iMb3rcM39HU7yDYfcXkLhG5DLOgL8hlvniLBGt6q7Q1KsY8Q68qOmZPrM7LWUCwrVavBGRzseoNLhAdp8d6QPSEEvk4Sx0sIwljYN8KjIobTRMlxdvXe3au4iIjSq3Y8CYERhx~U4piHdWK3ROPbYhEJMyeqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gardner Zoning Board of Appeals voted Sept. 16 to deny applications from a prospective buyer seeking permission to convert 63 Walnut Street into residential units after the property owner revoked the buyer's authorization to act on the owner's behalf. The board also clarified that the existing special permit held by the owner remains in effect.

The board considered two related cases: a continued special-permit filing tied to an earlier application and a separate special-permit application from a potential buyer seeking to convert a vacant office building at 63 Walnut Street into seven condominium units. Raymond Lafond, chair of the Gardner Zoning Board of Appeals, read an email from the property owner, identifying himself as the managing member of Herbrink LLC, saying, \"I have revoked mister Steven Negueres and it says former potential buyer authorization to apply for special permit to the above property. In consequence, please consider this request for hearing cancellation.\" Lafond summarized the owner's point: \"he definitely does not want this to go forward. They have not come to agreement on selling price, etcetera.\"

Board members discussed whether the buyer's filing remained valid after the owner's revocation and whether lack of representation at the hearing justified denial. A motion to deny one application for lack of appearance was introduced, then withdrawn after members reviewed the owner's letter. The board ultimately approved a motion that \"both of the applications from [the outside applicant] be denied for lack of standing.\" The motion passed by voice vote. The board noted that the underlying special permit held by the owner remains effective because the owner has performed substantial work on the property.

Board members also asked about procedural consequences for the prospective buyer if the board denied the application. A member asked whether a denial would require the buyer to wait two years before reapplying; the board confirmed that a two-year waiting period would apply in that scenario.

The ZBA's action resolves a months-long set of filings and a dispute between the owner, identified in the record as the managing member of Herbrink LLC, and a prospective buyer who had applied in his own name. The board did not cite any city or state statute during its discussion; its decision was procedural and based on standing and representation issues raised in submitted correspondence and at the hearing.

The board did not take up any substantive changes to the owner's existing special permit for 63 Walnut Street, and members emphasized that a transfer of an active special permit was not before them in the same form at this meeting.","The Gardner Zoning Board of Appeals voted to deny applications from a prospective buyer to alter 63 Walnut Street after the property owner withdrew authorization. The board left the underlying special permit held by the owner in place.","actionData","errors"]

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Gardner ZBA schedules member training at Greenfield Community College; no formal site-visit vote needed

Gardner ZBA denies outside buyer—applications tied to 63 Walnut Street after owner revokes authorization