Planning Board approves conditional use permit for detached accessory apartment at 19 Beaver Lane
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Summary
The Bedford Planning Board granted a conditional use permit to allow a detached accessory apartment (ADU) at 19 Beaver Lane after the applicant revised the design so the structure reads as a single story from the street and addressed wetland buffer concerns; the board attached four standard conditions.
The Bedford Planning Board on June 16 approved a conditional use permit to allow a detached accessory apartment at 19 Beaver Lane, finding the revised design met the standards for ADUs in the Residential Agricultural (RNA) zone.
Why it matters: The application required coordination between the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the town’s conservation commission because the lot is near a wetland buffer. The applicant revised the design so the ADU appears as a single story from the roadway and reduced impacts to the wetland buffer.
Key details - The board found the applicant met the nine criteria for detached accessory apartments in Article 275‑1, subsections A through I, and granted the permit subject to conditions 1–4 in the staff report dated 06/16/2025. - The applicant confirmed the unit is a one‑bedroom ADU; septic design will be revised or sized accordingly before state review and permitting. - Exterior materials will be horizontal vinyl siding to match the primary house; the primary house color is a darker blue and the roof will use architectural shingles to be complementary to the main structure.
What the applicant said - Jason Lopez of Keach Nordstrom & Associates, representing the applicant Diane Bonfiglio, described changes that move the garage under a drive‑under and place the ADU at the front yard location previously approved by the ZBA to minimize wetland impacts.
Board action - Motion to grant the conditional use permit passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The approval incorporates the board’s findings and conditions in the staff report.