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Planning board recommends approval for Linares Marlborough Street renovation with conditions
Summary
The planning board recommended that the zoning board approve Carolina Linares’s plan to convert a two‑family house at 82–84 Marlborough Street into a four‑unit building by adding two stories, with conditions including permeable paving, one off‑street space per unit, a lighting plan, landscaping and a rodent‑control plan.
The Chelsea Planning Board voted to recommend approval to the Zoning Board Tuesday for a proposal by homeowner Carolina Linares to convert a two‑family house at 82–84 Marlborough Street into a four‑unit building by adding two stories to the existing footprint.
The recommendation is intended to enable extensive renovations Linares and her representative said are needed to bring the building up to modern standards while maintaining the neighborhood’s architectural character. The board attached a package of conditions before forwarding the matter to the Zoning Board for final action.
Under the plan, no change would be made to the building footprint; the applicant would add two units on top of the existing two‑story structure to create four total dwelling units. The petitioner said the building currently contains three bedrooms in each of the two existing units and that the proposed third and fourth floors would each include three bedrooms, which would bring the building to a total of 12 bedrooms. The proposal will require zoning relief, including parking relief, the petitioner’s representative said.
Board members and the petitioner discussed site details: the existing detached garage in the rear would be demolished to create a parking area holding five vehicles, which the petitioner said equates to one off‑street space per future unit plus one extra space. The petitioner said current tenants will move out while the renovation is underway and that trash and snow storage are planned for the rear of the lot. The petitioner’s representative summarized the applicant’s intent as: “maintain[ing] the architecture of the neighborhood” while making the project financially feasible.
During deliberations a board member moved that the board recommend approval with the following conditions: use of permeable pavers or pavement; each unit must have at least one off‑street parking space; residents of the new units are not eligible to participate in the city’s resident sticker parking program; prior to issuance of an occupancy permit the petitioner must provide the Department of Permitting and Land Use Planning with the addresses of two of the new units; installation of a white roof; submission of a landscape plan to the Department of Permitting and Land Use Planning; submission of an exterior lighting plan compliant with IDSA standards; and provision of a rodent‑control plan. Another board member seconded the motion. The motion carried; board members raised hands in favor and two members verbally registered opposition before the chair announced the motion carried.
The board’s recommendation and the conditions will accompany the application at the Zoning Board hearing. The petitioner was told the Zoning Board meeting for this item is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m., at which the Zoning Board will make the final determination.
Clarifying details recorded at the meeting include: the project proposes no change to the lot footprint; the rear garage is to be demolished and reconfigured as five parking spaces; the building would increase from two units to four units by adding two stories; the applicant said current tenants will vacate for renovations; and the board required a lighting plan, landscape plan, permeable paving, address reporting before occupancy and a rodent control plan as conditions.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this coverage are listed below.
