Charlton board grants special permit for pizza shop cooler/storage at 9 City Depot Road

The Town of Charlton Zoning Board of Appeals voted on March 3 to grant a special permit for a rear storage and walk‑in cooler enclosure at Nine City Depot Road for a local pizza shop. Architect Jay Galant, representing the tenant, described the project as an enclosure to allow indoor access to a walk‑in cooler and to replace an older unpermitted cooler and slab behind the building.

Building commissioner Kurt Meascus told the board the lot is a pre‑existing nonconforming parcel (deficient by roughly 900 sq ft for new construction) and confirmed a slab and an earlier cooler had been placed without a permit; he cautioned that conservation commission review will be required because portions of the site lie in a river/rep zone. Meascus also said the proposed work would need structural documentation from a registered design professional before building permits can follow.

Board members heard no abutters or other public objections. One board member summarized the group’s view: "It's not going to be detrimental to that area in any way at all," and moved to grant a special permit to construct the roughly 200‑square‑foot storage/cooler area according to the plans submitted. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Meascus advised the applicant that a 20‑day appeal period applies; once the appeal period expires the applicant must record the special permit with the town clerk and the registry of deeds and pursue building and conservation approvals before construction proceeds.

The board approved the special permit by voice vote and the applicant was told to wait out the 20‑day appeal period and then proceed with subsequent agency reviews.