Planning board approves special permit to convert former Mammoth Road fire station into three residences

The Lowell Planning Board on Oct. 6 approved a special permit allowing Scaffability LLC to convert the former Mammoth Road fire station at 93 Mammoth Road into three residential dwelling units, the board announced. The motion passed with conditions and was recorded as 5 in favor, none opposed.

Attorney John Geary, representing the applicant, said the property (approximately 5,346 square feet) was the successful bidder in a city request-for-proposals process and that the purchase and sale agreement is contingent on receiving municipal approvals. The proposal calls for two large units occupying the second and third floors and a smaller ground-floor unit, with assigned parking: each of the second-floor units will have one garage bay plus an exterior space and the first-floor unit will have two tandem spaces at the south side of the lot. Geary said the rehabilitation will include repointing brick, replacing windows and doors, painting trim, repaving, adding a pervious walkway and landscaping.

Matt Hammer of Landplex Engineering described site changes that will reduce impervious surface and add landscaped areas, porous walkway and a requested front shade tree. Planning staff and other departments provided comments in writing; Geary said the applicant is prepared to comply with the engineering, stormwater and water-department comments and noted a prior Zoning Board of Appeals approval for dimensional relief received on Sept. 8, which carried two conditions (determine feasibility of a front shade tree and comply with engineering department comments).

During deliberation a board member moved to approve the special permit with specific conditions: placement of the requested shade tree in the front of the lot, incorporation of engineering-department conditions 1–7 (including granite curb removal/reset and paving requirements), and coordination with the stormwater management team on any drainage requirements. The motion was seconded and the board recorded the vote: "motion carries, 5 in favor, none against." The applicant was reminded that the purchase agreement with the city remains contingent on obtaining municipal approvals and that building-code requirements (including sprinkler/alarm work requested by the fire department) must be satisfied before occupancy.