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Board of Appeals approves special permit for Stephon Gillings at 109 Smith Road
Summary
The Board of Appeals voted 3-0 to grant a special permit allowing homeowner Stephon Gillings to proceed with a reduced-size renovation at 109 Smith Road after the applicant submitted revised plans the board found to comply with side setbacks.
The Board of Appeals voted 3-0 on Feb. 12, 2026, to grant a special permit allowing homeowner Stephon Gillings to proceed with a reduced-size renovation at 109 Smith Road. The three-member panel—Chair Kathleen O’Donnell and Members Nicholas Gray and Michael Brown—approved the relief after reviewing revised plot plans and written input.
The decision follows a continuance and an earlier denial letter from the Building Department that was entered into the record. At the hearing Gillings said he and his family would live in the house, that the basement would not include a bedroom, and that the revised plans reduce the size of the addition compared with the earlier, nonconforming design. "The result would not be a multi-unit structure," Gillings said. He also told the board the new attic plan would make the space "even less than the allowed 2/3 of the second floor," and the Chair referenced an affidavit covering square footage.
A neighbor, Glenn Pavlicek, told the board he was concerned about the size of the addition but "supports if it meets the zoning regulations." The Chair clarified the requested relief was for a Special Permit and not a height variance; two letters of support and one letter of opposition were recorded in the file (supporters: Carmen Pimentel and Anita Penta; opponent: Joanne Fisher).
During deliberations, Member Nicholas Gray said the planned addition is relatively small compared with others in the area and questioned whether relief would be required if side setbacks were now compliant. Member Michael Brown and Chair O’Donnell agreed that the project would remain a single-family dwelling and noted the reduction in scope. The Board then voted to grant the relief requested; the minutes show all three members voting "aye."
The board closed evidence and deliberated at the Feb. 12 hearing and recorded the vote to grant the special permit. The meeting minutes state the hearing began at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:32 p.m. The record includes plot plans dated 09-22-2025 and 01-27-2026 and the Building Department denial letter.
