Planning Board backs City Council review for parking reductions on buildings of four or more units

Revere City—Planning Board members voted April 29 to recommend that the City Council be the approving authority for any zoning relief that reduces the number of required parking spaces for developments of four or more dwelling units.

Under the motion, parking relief for one- through three-unit properties would continue to be handled by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Planning Board—action is a recommendation to the City Council under the state zoning act and is not a final approval; the City Council will receive the Planning Board—recommendation for its consideration.

Board discussion centered on where to draw a threshold between projects handled by the Zoning Board of Appeals and those sent to the City Council. Several members said one- and two-family conversions and typical three-decker buildings are better handled by the Zoning Board of Appeals, and proposed that larger multi-family developments be routed to the City Council. A board member proposed four or more units as the cutoff; the motion adopted uses that threshold.

A staff member told the board that, under the state zoning act, the Planning Board must issue a recommendation to the City Council within 21 days. Board members also noted that, if the City Council receives a special-permit request, the council has up to 90 days to act on it, per the discussion at the meeting. The board noted its next meeting is May 19 if additional action is required.

The motion was made by Mr. Abrams and seconded (second not specified in the transcript). The Planning Board voted to forward the recommendation to the City Council; there were no recorded votes in opposition, and the board chair declared the recommendation will go forward.

With no further business the Planning Board adjourned the meeting.