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Lowell ZBA approves special permit to convert 230 Cumberland Road laundromat into offices
Summary
The Lowell City Zoning Board of Appeals on March 10 approved a special permit to change the former laundromat at 230 Cumberland Road into professional office and service space, imposing conditions including an amended owner listing and coordination with the city's shade-tree program.
The Lowell City Zoning Board of Appeals on March 10 approved a special permit allowing the conversion of a vacant laundromat at 230 Cumberland Road into professional office and service space, the board said.
Board members voted to grant ZBA 2025‑5 with conditions including that the applicant work with the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) on a street‑side shade tree and submit an amended application listing Happy Home Investments LLC as the property owner. The motion to approve was made by Member James McCarthy and seconded by Vice Chair Callahan; the roll call vote was unanimous.
The applicant, Peli Shawn, told the board she recently acquired the property and plans to use part of the interior for a plumbing business office and lease the other side to a single small business tenant. Shawn said the site has private off‑street parking and that she does not expect the new uses to draw continuous traffic. "We have... 8 total, 4 and 4," Shawn said when describing the lot's spaces. She also said tenants upstairs are enrolled in a program and do not drive.
An abutter, Mark Goulet of 233 Cumberland Road, said his family has lived across the street for decades and raised concerns about existing parking pressures and the potential for client vehicles if the spaces are rented to service businesses. Goulet said documents he reviewed suggested multiple small offices could occupy the building and that on‑street parking is already difficult for nearby residents.
Board members asked Shawn about vehicle storage and equipment; she said plumbing trucks and equipment are kept at a separate garage on Maple Street and that the Cumberland Road space would be used mainly for meetings, perhaps once every two weeks. Shawn also confirmed she has pulled a demolition permit and intends to renovate the vacant storefront.
Members discussed neighborhood impacts and conditions. McCarthy proposed, and the board approved, a requirement that the applicant work with DPD to evaluate eligibility for the city's gateway shade‑tree program and to allow a shade tree to be planted on the street side if feasible without losing required parking. Vice Chair Callahan asked the applicant to amend the city application to list Happy Home Investments LLC as the owner; the applicant agreed.
Motion and vote: McCarthy moved to approve ZBA 2025‑5 (special permit to change use from laundromat to professional office and service business at 230 Cumberland Road) with the conditions described above; Vice Chair Callahan seconded. Roll call: Chairman Peck — approve with conditions; Vice Chair Callahan — approve; Member McCarthy — approve with conditions; Member Brier — approve; Member Prokop — approve with conditions; Member Helvey — approve; Member Nickerson — approve. The motion carried.
The board closed the hearing after the vote. The applicant was advised to coordinate with DPD on the shade tree and to submit an amended main application reflecting the LLC owner as required by the board's condition.
