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Montague Place garden dispute continued to July 18 as neighbors seek compromise
Summary
A heated appeal over a sidewalk landscaping permit for a long‑standing Montague Place garden was continued to July 18 to allow negotiations between Montague residents (who claim long stewardship of the garden) and Castle Street permit holders; the Board urged compromise and joint solutions on access, maintenance and gate issues.
The Board of Appeals continued a contested sidewalk landscaping permit dispute involving Montague Place to July 18 after lengthy public testimony on June 13.
Montague neighbors (represented by David Sincotta and Barbara Latour) said the garden at the end of Montague was created and maintained by Montague residents for decades and argued the Montague homeowners should retain the right to continue stewardship. Castle Street property owners who obtained a sidewalk landscaping permit (permit holders Judith Cohen and Mallon Chattin) told the board their property lines give them adjacency under the public works code and that their requested work was limited and legitimate.
Carla Short (DPW) explained the bureau interpreted the public works code to award a sidewalk landscaping permit to the property owners with the most frontage abutting the public right‑of‑way; she said the department had one permit application before it and that it attempted to notify neighbors. Several Montague residents described the garden’s history, community value and concerns about new access and gate changes; permit holders said the work performed was limited pruning and one paver and that the gate and fence questions were separate issues.
Commissioners encouraged the parties to reach a local compromise addressing access, gate security and maintenance; the board voted unanimously to continue the matter to July 18 to allow negotiation and further work. The continuance was framed as an opportunity for the parties to attempt settlement with the board available to craft a narrowly tailored resolution if needed.
