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ZBA approves a string of ADU and garage projects; board attaches health and engineering conditions
Summary
On June 11 the Concord Zoning Board granted special permits for multiple accessory dwelling units and garage reconstructions (199 [street], 131 Harrington Ave, 411 Bedford St, 98 Jenny Dugan Rd) with standard conditions and health/engineering reviews; the board noted neighbors’ support for several projects.
The Town of Concord Zoning Board of Appeals on June 11 approved permits for several accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and related garage reconstructions, allowing homeowners to add housing units while attaching conditions from the health and engineering divisions.
Key approvals and conditions (Votes at a glance): - 199 [street number as in record] — Jennifer Lifford and Daniel Carr presented a plan to reconstruct a legal non-conforming detached garage and establish an attached ADU (application referenced relief under zoning sections 4.2.2.2 and 7.1.3). The board granted the special permit subject to engineering confirmation that no additional runoff will leave the property and health‑division review of building permit documents.
- 131 Harrington Ave — Backyard ADUs (Tim Riley, applicant representative) sought a 998-square-foot detached ADU on a pre-existing non-conforming lot. The board approved the permit with standard conditions and the engineering/health recommendations on septic and site details.
- 411 Bedford St — Marin Muniala pursued a four-car garage with an ADU above (plans described the ADU as roughly 999 sq ft; basement/storage was discussed as separate from the ADU living area). The board approved the special permit with standard conditions; members emphasized the ADU square footage should be recorded separately from garage/basement storage.
- 98 Jenny Dugan Rd — Ellie Adam and partner sought a detached ~900-square-foot ADU in the groundwater conservancy district; the board granted the special permit with health and engineering conditions and with the board noting multiple supportive neighbor letters.
Across approvals the board routinely required documented engineering statements on runoff, and in several cases required pre‑building‑permit submissions to the health department (septic or COC requirements) before issuing permits.
Why it matters: The approvals reflect the board’s continuing role in enabling added housing capacity and multigenerational living while balancing neighborhood character, septic/groundwater protections and infrastructure constraints.
What’s next: Applicants must satisfy the engineering and health conditions included in the motions before obtaining building permits. Some projects will return to town departments to complete permit checklists and required COCs before construction begins.
