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Chelsea Zoning Board grants several permits, approves taxi‑livery parking and sets continuances
Summary
At its meeting the Chelsea Zoning Board of Appeals approved rear‑addition and taxi‑livery parking special permits with conditions, designated one modification as minor, classified another as major and continued multiple cases to November for further review.
The Chelsea Zoning Board of Appeals approved multiple routine zoning requests, set administrative determinations on two modification petitions, and continued several proposals for fuller review at later hearings.
At the outset the board allowed the withdrawal of an item (2025‑103462, Winnisimitt Street & 1420 Pembroke Street) and continued three cases (816 Broadway; 2471 Eastern Ave; 383 Watts Street) at the applicant’s request.
Approved: 82 Clinton Street (case 2025‑1582). Applicant Maria Cartagena sought variances and a special permit for a rear bedroom extension and a 12‑by‑12‑foot deck plus a 3‑by‑7‑foot rear extension. Planning staff reported the planning board recommended approval with a single condition limiting lighting to avoid shining on abutting properties in accordance with dark‑sky guidance. The board approved the special permit and variances with that condition.
Approved: 155 Crescent Ave (case 2025‑161 — Ever Nunez Chavez). Attorney James O’Shea presented a proposal to use an existing commercial lot to park livery vehicles associated with a business. Planning staff said the site historically served parking uses and recommended approval. The board approved the special permit with conditions that vehicles not be washed on‑site, no mechanical work be performed on the lot, and that the petitioner must return for board approval if they seek to store more vehicles on site than the approved number of parking spaces.
Administrative determinations: The board treated a petitioner’s amended proposal at 617–618 Washington Ave (case 2018‑6176178) as a minor modification and accepted the change to convert an underused community room to an additional residential unit and to convert vacant ground‑floor retail to a personal‑service establishment (a salon). The board’s determination was made at a duly posted meeting and will be memorialized in a letter for the file.
By contrast, a different requested modification at 157 Washington Ave (case 202209157) seeking two additional units and additional parking and usable‑open‑space relief was determined to be a major modification; the board concluded the proposal increases the degree of relief required and should be scheduled for a fuller hearing in November when a larger board can sit.
Continuances and next steps: Several items were scheduled for the planning board on Oct. 28 and will return to the ZBA on Wednesday, Nov. 12 (the board noted the November meeting falls on Wednesday because Nov. 11 is a holiday). Those items include conversion/expansion proposals at 403–405 Bridal (new properties LLC) and a third‑floor addition at 59–61 Cary Ave (Grillo/Leon). The board instructed applicants to file the materials the planning board expects (site plans, parking diagrams where relevant) before the Oct. 28 planning review.
The board made clear that written decisions are required for approvals and that applicants must wait for those filings and the applicable appeal periods before proceeding with construction or change of use.
