Templeton ZBA approves small lot-line variance for 711 Baldwinville Road

Templeton Zoning Board of Appeals members voted July 15 to approve a variance reducing the area and frontage of a nonconforming lot at 711 Baldwinville Road, a change the town says is needed to resolve a title issue connected to a small sidewalk parcel the town has already used.

The board’s decision affects a preexisting nonconforming lot tied to the estate of the late Richard Chartier and follows a May 9 letter from the town building commissioner explaining that the lot cannot be reduced in area or frontage without a variance. The decision will allow the planning board to complete an Approval Not Required (ANR) endorsement needed for the registry of deeds.

Board members heard from residents and the estate executor before voting. Attorney for the estate, a representative from Flick Law Group, had asked the ZBA to grant relief to correct what the town and estate described as paperwork and mapping errors arising after the town acquired a small piece of the property for sidewalk work. The town’s building commissioner/zoning enforcement officer advised in a May 9 letter that because 711 Baldwinville Road is a preexisting nonconforming lot, any reduction in area or frontage requires ZBA relief and a new survey submitted to the planning board for ANR endorsement.

During public comment, neighbor Molly Payne said the Chartier family has been “stewards of our town” and urged the board to “do the right thing” for the heirs. Richard Payne, another neighbor, confirmed the portion in question is a small corner at the Vernon Street and Baldwinville Road intersection. Christophe Chardia, who identified himself as executor of Richard Chartier’s estate, said the town approached the late owner in good faith, that paperwork was not completed before Chartier’s unexpected death, and that the variance is needed so the executor can carry out the will.

The variance requested would reduce the lot area from 24,915 square feet to 24,898 square feet and reduce frontage from the required 150 feet to 126.128 feet; the town’s already-used parcel is described in the hearing as roughly 17 square feet at the corner. The board made and seconded a motion to approve the variance as presented; a roll-call vote recorded affirmative votes and the chair stated that the approval would provide the documentation needed for the registry of deeds and the planning board’s ANR endorsement.

Discussion v. decision: the record shows both public comment and staff explanation preceded the formal action. The board’s vote was a formal action approving the variance; the minutes record the board directing that the approval material be provided for registry recording and planning board ANR processing.

The change applies only to the specific lot that contains the house at 711 Baldwinville Road and to the small 17-square-foot area used by the town for a sidewalk; the board did not take any other land‑use action in this hearing item. The hearing was then formally closed.