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Commission reports on Lyman/Maple Street variance; sought accessible units but state board granted variance
Summary
Commission members described their review of a proposed renovation on Lyman and Maple streets and said the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board granted a variance after reviewing site constraints and renovation valuations.
The commission discussed a recent variance request for a renovation at the Lyman Street and Maple Street building and said the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (AAB) reviewed and, in the commission’s assessment, was likely to grant a variance.
Chair Lynn Horan said the commission sought accessible apartments but learned the AAB review found structural constraints and fire-safety requirements limited modifications on the ground floor and that the renovation met the statutory threshold allowing the variance. Horan said she had requested the AAB review and was subsequently sent the AAB’s written review; the board told her the review had been circulated but to an earlier email address in error before being corrected.
Commission members said the renovation’s assessed value and the proportion of renovations relative to assessed value were dispositive under the board’s criteria. Horan noted the developer had also received a large state grant, but the AAB representative told her the presence of a grant would not necessarily change the board’s ruling under current rules.
The commission said it will monitor future variance requests and stressed the need to respond more quickly when the commission receives variance notices because the AAB’s meeting schedule requires rapid comment windows.
No local motion or appeal was filed at the meeting; commissioners agreed the outcome was disappointing but that they would ask to be notified earlier so they could review future applications within the AAB’s timelines.
