Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Permits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Concord Zoning Board approves four special permits, sets November hybrid meeting
Summary
The Concord Zoning Board of Appeals on Oct. 10 approved four special permits — a short-term rental at 121 Hubbard St., an ADU and setback waiver at 471 Old Grove/Old Road, a shed replacement at 143 Sudbury Rd., and a two-family replacement at 691–693 Old Bedford Rd. — and agreed to hold a hybrid meeting on Nov. 14 to accommodate accessibility needs.
The Concord Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously Oct. 10 to grant four special permits and agreed to make the Nov. 14 meeting hybrid to accommodate a public request for in-person access.
Applicants won approvals on a range of proposals: a short-term rental in downtown Concord, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) with a front-yard setback waiver, a replacement of a nonconforming storage shed, and the demolition-and-replacement of an existing single-family home with a new two-family dwelling.
Rebecca Robichaux sought and received a special permit to operate a tourist home at 121 Hubbard Street. Robichaux told the board the unit is a studio above a garage, "so there's no separate bedroom, but there is a full bath," and said the owners "would never rent it out and not be here," noting the space is limited to two people and has two parking spaces. Chair noted the lack of cooking facilities as dispositive under the bylaws and said he was "comfortable with this application." Board member Ravi Freya moved to grant the permit under zoning bylaw sections 5.3.0.15 and 11.6; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
Scott and Kathleen Snook received a special permit and a front-yard setback waiver to allow an 892-square-foot ADU on the second floor of an existing detached garage at 471 Old Grove/Old Road. Kathleen Snook described the structure’s long history (dating to 1939) and explained the upstairs has a bedroom, full bath and sink but is not an approved kitchen. Thomas Swain clarified that the 892-square-foot figure reflects habitable area measured using the 6-foot-8-inch headroom standard after an architect's larger square-foot figure was reconciled. Ravi Freya moved to grant the permit under sections 4.2.2.2 and 11.6; the motion passed by voice vote.
Charles Audi was granted a special permit to demolish a nonconforming 254-square-foot attached storage shed and construct a new attached 506-square-foot storage addition at 143 Sudbury Road. The applicant's representative showed a site plan and said the new enclosed space would replace items currently stored outside; the board noted a letter of public support on file and agreed the proposal would not be substantially more detrimental than the existing structure. The motion to approve under bylaw 7.1.0.3 and 11.6 carried by voice vote.
IJJ Properties’ plan to demolish an approximately 3,000-square-foot single-family home (with ADU) and replace it with a 6,192-square-foot two-family dwelling at 691–693 Old Bedford Road was approved with a condition on stormwater management. Paul Kirchner, representing the applicant, showed existing and proposed plot plans and said the proposal orients the new driveway to Blue Heron Way; staff noted the fire department requested an address tied to the driveway and that the property will receive a Blue Heron Way address. Board members pressed for confirmation of legal rights to use the private Blue Heron Way and for measures to address the increased impervious area. The board approved the special permit under section 4.2.0.2 and 11.6, adding a requirement that a robust stormwater management plan addressing increased impervious surfaces be submitted as a condition of approval. Kirchner told the board an application to the Natural Resources Commission for buffer/related work has been submitted.
On administrative business the board discussed accessibility and meeting format. A resident with a visual-processing disorder had asked for in-person accommodation; board members noted the Commonwealth allows continued remote meetings through at least March and agreed to hold November’s meeting (Nov. 14) as a hybrid session to accommodate the request and to review future months case by case. The board also approved minutes from January 18, February 14, February 29 and June 13 (with minor corrections noted).
The board closed the hearing after a short public comment period in which a representative of the local housing community congratulated members on the two-family approval. Several items were noted as upcoming (Forest Ridge on Oct. 30).
