Providence Zoning Board of Review members voted Jan. 16, 2025 to grant a 30‑square‑foot area variance that allows a 180‑square‑foot storage shed at 2 Zor Street in North Providence.

The board approved the application after the director of planning and zoning read the relevant ordinance, planning staff recommended approval with conditions and two neighbors spoke in support. The applicant, Michael Aziz, apologized for missing an earlier hearing and said the shed was built after a permitting mix‑up. "I just wanna let you know I'm very sorry for not showing up for that first meeting because this is very important to us," Aziz told the board.

The board’s director of planning and zoning, Brent Wagon, told members the structure meets the setback and height requirements in the planning staff report and that the chosen location reduces impacts on adjacent yards. "He meets all setbacks, height requirements. And, if you look at the property, there really is no better place to put it," Wagon said, adding that placing the shed elsewhere would affect a neighbor’s yard or conflict with a pool.

Two neighbors who live nearby—John McGinn and Greg Espiele—addressed the board in support. "I have no problem with this structure being there," McGinn said. Espiele said the shed "looks great in his yard" and that there was no alternative location on the lot.

Board members moved to approve the variance "based on the administrative report" and the planning board recommendations dated Dec. 19, 2024. The vote was recorded as yes from Chair Joe Squavio, Paul Pizzi, Debbie Gonzales Caballero and Ken Scotti; there were no recorded no votes or abstentions. The board clerk said the decision would be written and provided to the applicant so he could continue with the building‑permit process.

Votes at a glance

• Election of officers: The board accepted the slate proposed by the presiding member, with Joe Squavio named chair, Debbie Gonzales Caballero named vice chairperson and Al Cardenty named secretary (Cardenty was not present at the meeting). Motion passed by voice vote; no recorded opposing votes were announced.

• 2025 meeting schedule: The board approved the proposed schedule, keeping meetings on the third Thursday of each month except June, which will be held June 26 because the third Thursday falls on Juneteenth. Motion passed by voice vote; no recorded opposing votes were announced.

• Minutes: The board approved minutes from Nov. 21, 2024 (the transcript references also a planning report dated Dec. 19, 2024). Motion passed by voice vote; no recorded opposing votes were announced.

• Adjournment: Motion to adjourn passed by voice vote.

The board meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call that showed a quorum of members present. The shed application, identified in the record as a request for a 30‑square‑foot area variance under Article 3, Section 3.18 of the North Providence ordinance, was the primary substantive agenda item. The ordinance language read into the record stated that a storage shed in a residential zoning district must be located no less than 3 feet from a side or rear yard line, not exceed 150 square feet in area and not exceed 15 feet in height (as read at the meeting).

Board members and staff repeatedly noted that the shed occupies the only practicable location on the parcel given an in‑ground pool and neighbor yards. Planning staff recommended approval with conditions listed in the planning report; the board adopted that recommendation. The applicant was instructed to proceed with the building‑permit process and will receive the written decision documenting the variance and conditions.

The meeting concluded after board members approved routine minutes and administrative items. No appeals, enforcement actions or penalties were discussed during this hearing.