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Southborough ZBA OKs special permit allowing up to eight garaged vehicles at 6 Lorenzo Drive
Summary
After a continued public hearing, the Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special permit allowing an accessory garage at 6 Lorenzo Drive that would raise the total permitted garaged vehicles on the lot to eight, with the upstairs limited to unfinished storage and the plan removing previously proposed office space.
The Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals voted to approve a special permit for 6 Lorenzo Drive that allows private garaging for more than three vehicles, approving a total limit of eight garaged vehicles on the lot.
The board closed a continued public hearing on the petition and, after discussion about neighbors' concerns, approved the application as presented with findings that the proposed garage would not substantially derogate from the neighborhood and would not create a traffic-safety issue. Laura (staff member, Town of Southborough) told the board that the applicant had requested permission for a total of eight vehicles and read the relevant zoning language aloud: "Use is by special permit is a private garage or private parking for more than 3 vehicles that is accessory to a permanent principal use and on the same lot as such use."
Applicant representative Michael Bartolini, 9 McNeil Drive, described revisions made since the prior hearing: the upstairs space above the proposed two-bay, 24-by-28-foot garage has been eliminated as finished office space and is now shown as unfinished storage (attic-style plywood floor accessed by stairs). He said the accessory building would be built slightly into the existing stone wall and that the structure meets the town's height requirements; the proposed garage ridge height was described by the applicant as below the zoning maximum and the first-floor garage interior depth and ceiling heights were shown on the plans.
Neighbors raised concerns at the earlier hearing and one resident, Jason Malinowski of 7 Lorenzo Drive, asked the board to clarify the total number of vehicles that could be stored. Laura responded that the application requests eight vehicles in total: four in the proposed accessory garage (two lifts allowing two cars stacked per side) and four in the existing three-bay house garage when combined with lifts. Several board members noted that while neighbors had raised noise and safety concerns, those issues would be addressed by noise and traffic rules rather than this zoning decision. Board members also noted that removing the proposed office space reduced the risk of a future commercial use in the accessory structure.
The board debated conditions and findings. Members agreed on findings that the structure is in harmony with the neighborhood, that the project does not increase traffic hazards, and that the stored vehicles are for personal, hobby use rather than commercial operation; the board placed a condition in the decision record that the upstairs area remain unfinished and not be used as living or office space. After the board discussed the town code and how the permit relates to vehicles rather than bay counts, a motion to approve the petition was made and seconded. The motion passed with a majority: Jamie — aye; Paul — aye; Doris — aye; Williams — aye; Mike — aye; Doug — abstain.
The town planner (Laura) said she would finalize and file the written decision with the town clerk. The decision will be issued prior to the May 14 decision deadline, and a 20-day appeal period will follow filing.
