Board approves special permit for adult day care at North Road, with occupancy subject to building inspector and health review

The Zoning Board of Appeals on April 7 approved a special permit allowing an adult day care to operate in combined suites at 142/144 North Road (suites referenced as 142B and F175), subject to review and final signoff by the building inspector and the Board of Health for occupancy, plumbing fixtures and egress.

Applicant representatives said the operator plans a daytime program focused on social activities and basic care for older adults; they characterized the operation as non-medical daytime support and not a skilled‑nursing facility. The applicant indicated a planned staff roster that would include drivers and licensed nursing staff and said transportation would be provided by the operator’s vans rather than drop‑offs by family members.

Planning staff and the building inspector told the board that an architect or design professional must produce a code summary and floor plan showing how tables/chairs and circulation would be arranged so an accurate occupant load can be calculated; the number of required toilets and building exits depends on that load. The applicant said the combined space measures about 4,638 square feet and estimated a maximum customer count of about 70, with roughly 8–10 staff, but the board and building inspector stressed those numbers are subject to building‑code and Board of Health review.

After discussion, the board voted to approve the special permit with an explicit condition that final occupancy, plumbing adequacy and other life‑safety items are subject to building inspector and Board of Health signoff. The motion included the board’s findings that the use meets the bylaw’s special‑permit standards and is not expected to cause undue traffic congestion given the operator’s plan to run its own vehicle pickups.