Board grants parking variance for neighborhood tax and immigration service at 55 Wommasset Street

The Lowell Zoning Board of Appeals voted Feb. 10 to grant a variance allowing Ola Multi Services to operate at 55 Wommasset Street with relief from the city's minimum off-street parking requirements.

Applicant Acera Suero told the board she runs Ola Multi Services, provides tax preparation and immigration assistance, and said the office serves English-, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking residents. Suero said the business occupies an existing single commercial space that previously had been a laundromat and that the interior has been reconfigured to create a waiting area and two service rooms.

Member McCarthy, who led questioning, confirmed with Suero that the building has multiple exits and that the laundromat use had ceased; planning staff had raised no objection to the requested parking relief. The applicant stated the business currently uses existing building entrances and expects to serve customers primarily by appointment.

The board voted unanimously to approve the variance. Member McCarthy made the motion and Member Prokop seconded. Roll call showed approvals from Chairman Peck, Vice Chair Callahan, Member McCarthy, Member Prokop, Member Breer and Member Harvey.

Suero said the space has only three off-street parking spaces but noted on-street parking is available nearby. Board members discussed the neighborhood's constrained parking and agreed the former laundromat likely had a larger parking impact than the current business. The board did not impose an administrative review condition for this item.

The approval legalizes the existing business's zoning status; the applicant will still need to complete any other city licensing or registration required to operate.