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Woburn Board of Appeals approves setback variance for new Eastwood fire station
Summary
The Woburn Board of Appeals granted a variance allowing a proposed replacement fire station at 38 Central Street to sit closer to side lot lines than the R2 zoning standard, clearing a key local hurdle for the planned multi-vehicle station.
The Woburn Board of Appeals voted to grant a variance for a proposed replacement fire station at 38 Central Street, allowing the city to place the building with 12-foot side setbacks in an R2 zone that normally requires a 20-foot side setback.
City officials and the fire department told the board the larger building is needed to house multiple apparatus and additional staff. A city official said the project is part of a bond package approved by the City Council; the official described the bond authorization as $30,000,000 for two new stations, including this Eastwood site.
Chief Kenton, representing the fire department, said the station must hold “a fire engine, a fire ladder, and an ambulance” and include space for “5 more firefighters.” He described the Central Street site as “ideal for our needs” and said the design responds to departmental requirements for apparatus and crew.
Architect Rick Rice explained why the station must face Central Street rather than Utica Street. Rice said other Woburn facilities required deep drive-through bays and recounted that “that bay is 75 feet deep” at headquarters; the Eastwood lot lacks the grade and depth to place drive-through bays on Utica, he said, noting a roughly 5-foot grade change across the lot that would make rear access impractical.
Board members and the project team discussed site geometry, driveway apron needs and elevation changes. The design shown to the board places three apparatus bays side-by-side within a roughly 96-foot by 60–65-foot rectangular apparatus space, with second-floor dormitory and support spaces above. Board members also heard that a neighboring property owner supports the project and that the city has worked on the design for about a year.
After discussion, a member moved to approve the variance; the board seconded the motion and the vote passed. The board directed that a written decision be prepared and filed with the city clerk; no building permit will issue until the 20-day appeal period expires.
The project remains subject to review steps outside the Board of Appeals process, including final building-permit approvals and any conditions the city or other departments impose.
