Northborough ZBA approves variance for four‑bay garage at 58 Rice Ave.

The Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 13 approved a variance allowing a detached four‑bay garage at 58 Rice Ave., concluding the property’s irregular shape and septic placement create sufficient hardship to permit an additional garage bay beyond the town’s three‑bay guideline.

The applicant’s surveyor, David Sadowski of D.J. Associates, told the board the 21,230‑square‑foot lot narrows toward the rear, contains a septic field that prevents a rear‑yard garage and leaves only a constrained front area suitable for the structure. "The hardship is that the way the building is situated, there's no real way to connect the garage to the building," Sadowski said, adding the proposed garage would sit about 30 feet from the property line and roughly 40 feet from the road.

Owner representatives said the fourth bay is intended to store classic and collector vehicles rather than vehicles used daily. The applicant said on‑site storage would reduce the number of vehicles parked on Rice Ave., a narrow cut‑through road the board heard can be difficult to navigate.

Neighbors Carol and Craig Mackey told the board they respect the homeowner but urged caution about placing a large permanent structure near the roadway. "Our concern is that any large structure on the front of the property will distract from people driving," Carol Mackey said, citing high speeds, walkers and limited sightlines on Rice Ave.

Board members examined alternatives during deliberations, noting that a two‑bay garage would not require a variance and that a smaller footprint or double‑deep bay could accommodate additional vehicles without increasing the count of driveway‑facing garage doors. Several board members acknowledged reluctance to set precedent for frequent relief but said the parcel’s shape and the septic location weighed in favor of approval.

A motion to approve the variance under zoning bylaw section 705030 (Table 1, Part A, footnote 6) for Map 46, Parcel 36 at 58 Rice Ave. was moved and seconded; the board carried the motion. Staff explained next steps: the decision will be finalized and signed, the town clerk will post the decision and a 20‑calendar‑day appeal period follows filing. The applicant may submit building permit applications during the review process, but the permit cannot be released until the town issues a Certificate of No Appeal and the applicant records the decision at the Worcester Registry of Deeds.

The board added routine conditions to ensure setbacks and construction tolerances account for field measurements. The applicant was given the option to withdraw without prejudice or request a continuance if they prefer to reduce the building footprint and avoid a variance.

This decision concludes the ZBA’s review of the 58 Rice Ave. variance request; the project’s building permit and any appeals will determine the project timetable going forward.