ZBA approves procedural items; staff flags ADU regulation changes and easement deadline

At its Feb. 12 meeting the Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals approved the minutes from its Jan. 22 meeting and voted to continue the hearing for 6 Lorenzo Drive (Bridal Griffin request) to the board's March 19 meeting at 7 p.m.

A motion to approve the Jan. 22 minutes was seconded and passed with ayes recorded for Doug, Paul, Jamie, Mike and Doris. The board then agreed to continue the 6 Lorenzo Drive hearing to March 19 at 7 p.m.; the continuation motion also passed without objection during the roll call.

Laura, meeting staff, told the board the deadline to receive the easement plan for the 120 Turnpike 40B project is Feb. 17 and that the town has been told the plan should arrive this week. She also reported that recent state rule changes affecting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) have rendered some previously attached conditions unenforceable (for example, owner-occupancy covenants) and that staff are working with town counsel and planning staff on an administrable process to address units that were approved under prior conditions.

On shared parking, staff said the Planning Board is considering whether shared-parking arrangements should be governed by a special permit or by conditions in site-plan review to avoid imposing an onerous separate process. The board was reminded that the governor has filed a bill to make hybrid/remote meetings permanent; if a new law is not in place by March 31, the town will require the chair and a quorum to attend in person.

No further substantive public-comment items were raised during the administrative portion of the meeting.