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Zoning Board Continues Dominion Road Lot‑Split; Board Seeks Detailed Development Plans
Summary
The Zoning Board continued a request by owner Harry Avery to divide 29 Dominion Road into two 5,000‑square‑foot parcels, citing board concerns about a self‑created hardship and lack of specific development plans; the item was continued to Aug. 4, 2025.
Owner Harry Avery on July 14 asked the Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals for variance relief tied to a proposed lot split at 29 Dominion Road. Avery said the existing 10,000‑square‑foot parcel would be divided in half, yielding two roughly 5,000‑square‑foot lots; he said the subdivision would allow him to convey the new lot to a neighbor and later assemble parcels he owns for future townhouse or duplex development.
Planning staff (Amy Beth Leith) told the board the current proposal seeks a variance of 2,000 square feet from the 7,000‑square‑foot minimum lot area required in the RL‑7 zone for a single‑family detached dwelling. Staff noted the existing property is legally conforming today but that the applicant has not provided development plans for the parcel that would receive the conveyed lot. Staff asked the applicant to clarify why the lot line could not be adjusted to keep the existing house on a compliant 7,000‑square‑foot lot while conveying the remainder.
Board members raised concerns that the hardship appears self‑created — the applicant purchased the property with knowledge of its configuration — and that the board lacked detail about proposed future development, access along Chequessett (a private/unimproved way), and lot‑specific impacts. Several board members requested a clear plan for how the newly created lot will be used and how it would connect to the larger parcels the applicant owns.
Because several board members said they were not prepared to vote without those details, the applicant agreed to provide additional materials. The board voted unanimously to continue the public hearing to August 4, 2025 and to extend the constructive grant deadline to August 26, 2025 so the applicant can supply the requested site and development plans.
Motion and vote: Motion to continue 29 Dominion Road to the August 4, 2025 public hearing with a constructive grant deadline of August 26, 2025; motion carried unanimously (George Cortez — yes; Eric Tacorno — yes; Eric Barton Hagen — yes; Shannon Campanello — yes).
