Framingham ZBA approves variances and conditioned special permit to convert 18 Milton Street to two‑family
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Summary
After testimony and neighborhood input, the Zoning Board granted variances for frontage, lot size and front setback at 18 Milton Street, approved a special permit conditioned on provision of four off‑street parking spaces, and overturned the building commissioner's denial tied to 'footnote 8.'
The Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 14 voted to grant dimensional variances and approve a special permit allowing the conversion of 18 Milton Street from a single‑family home to a two‑family dwelling, subject to a condition that the applicant provide four off‑street parking spaces on the property.
Attorney Terry Morris, representing property owners Larissa Bulinkano and her husband, argued the board should follow the approach used in a prior Kendall Avenue case: grant variances for existing dimensional deficiencies so that the property becomes technically conforming, then issue the special permit under the ordinance. Morris told the board the lot measures about 6,732 square feet (below the 8,000‑square‑foot requirement) and that frontage on the site is about 58.75 feet—roughly 6.25 feet short of the 65‑foot requirement. He said the proposed site plan reduces impervious cover to under 35% and that longstanding physical features (a chain‑link fence erected decades ago and an adjacent 12‑unit building) contribute to the property’s uniqueness. “We are showing a proposed lot‑coverage reduction plan... to bring the lot coverage down to below 35%,” Morris said.
Board members discussed whether granting variances would cure the so‑called footnote 8 restriction (a zoning provision that bars a special permit when dimensional nonconformities exist) and agreed the proper sequence is to grant the variances first so the property is no longer dimensionally deficient, then grant the special permit. The chair and other members questioned parking logistics; the applicant’s representative said the detached garage could be removed or reconfigured and that tandem spaces are feasible. The chair proposed, and counsel accepted, making provision of four off‑street parking spaces a condition of the special permit.
During public comment, Marin (the applicant’s spouse) described the existing long driveway and letters of support from nearby addresses; district counselor Liora Malik testified the neighborhood is predominantly multifamily and voiced support for a two‑family use. The board considered written support on file from adjacent residents and accepted that testimony.
The board voted to grant the requested variances (front yard setback, lot size and frontage), then approved the special permit with the parking condition and, finally, voted to overturn the building commissioner’s earlier denial on the basis that the variances had been granted. The decisions were recorded at the hearing.
Next steps include filing the approved plans as the record and pursuing building‑department permits and any subsequent planning‑board review required for site plan details.
