City Council
Regular MeetingMarlborough, MA · March 10, 2025
Minutes
Ward Councilors
Councilors-at-Large Ward 1 – Mark A. Vital
Sean A. Navin Ward 2 – David Doucette
Mark A. Oram Ward 3 – Robert Preciado
Michael H. Ossing Ward 4 – Teona C. Brown
Kathleen D. Robey Ward 5 – John J. Irish
Ward 6 – A. Trey Fuccillo
Ward 7 – Donald R. Landers, Sr.
Council President Council Vice-President
Michael H. Ossing Kathleen D. Robey
CITY OF MARLBOROUGH
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025
The regular meeting of the City Council was held on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 8:00 PM in City
Council Chambers, City Hall. City Councilors Present: Ossing, Vital, Doucette, Preciado, Brown,
Irish, Fuccillo, Navin, Oram, & Robey. Absent: Landers. Meeting adjourned at 9:28 PM.
Motion by Councilor Brown, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED: That the Minutes of the City Council meeting, FEBRUARY 24, 2025, FILE;
adopted.
President Ossing called a recess at 8:05 PM and returned to open meeting at 8:10 PM.
That the PUBLIC HEARING on the Application for Special Permit from Attorney Brian Falk on
behalf of GR Development LLC, d/b/a Washville Car Wash for a Proposed new state of the
art Car Wash to be located at 223 East Main Street (former Bank of America location), Order
No. 25-1009369, all were heard who wish to be heard, hearing closed at 9:07 PM; adopted.
Councilors Present: Vital, Doucette, Preciado, Brown, Irish, Fuccillo, Navin, Oram,
Ossing & Robey.
Councilors Absent: Landers.
That the RESCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING on the Proposed Zoning Map Amendment from
Raimundo Neto, Owner of 36 Jefferson Street, to rezone 36 Jefferson Street, identified as Map
56, Parcel 153 from “Residence B (RB)” to “Neighborhood Business District (NB)”, Order
No. 24/25-1009330B, CONTINUED UNTIL MARCH 24, 2025, AT 8:00 PM; adopted.
a) Request from Attorney James McMahon on behalf of Raimundo Neto to CONTINUE
the Public Hearing to the March 24, 2025, City Council Meeting.
Councilors Present: Vital, Doucette, Preciado, Brown, Irish, Fuccillo, Navin, Oram,
Ossing & Robey.
Councilors Absent: Landers.
IN CITY COUNCIL 2 MARCH 10, 2025
Motion by Councilor Preciado, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED: That the Communication from Councilor Preciado, re: Proposed Ordinance
Amendment to Chapter 250 “Animals” to add a new Section relating to “Rodents”, referred
to LEGISLATIVE & LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE; adopted.
An Ordinance Amending the "Code of Ordinances City of Marlborough, Massachusetts",
with respect to Chapter 250 Thereof Entitled, "Animals", by adding a new Article XI
Entitled, “Rodents”.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MARLBOROUGH, as follows:
Article XI Rodents
§250-11. Definitions – As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
RODENTICIDES – A subclass of pesticides, defined under the Massachusetts Pesticide
Control Act MGL c.132B as substances or mixtures of substances intended to prevent,
destroy, repel, or mitigate rodents that are declared to be pests by the Massachusetts
pesticide board.
SECOND-GENERATION ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES (SGARs) –
Rodenticides developed to control rodents that are resistant to First-Generation
Anticoagulant Rodenticides and contain compounds that interfere with blood clotting and
cause death from excessive bleeding, while also remaining in animal tissues for an
extended period of time. These products currently include, but are not limited to, those
products containing brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone.
§ 250-XII. Use of Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides.
A. The use of SGARs on City-owned properties is hereby prohibited as of the effective
date of this policy. This policy applies to all City-owned property, including
buildings, grounds, parks, open spaces, and the public right of way, and shall be
adhered to by all employees of the City of Marlborough, as well as third party vendors
and contractors providing services at City-owned property.
B. Emergency waivers for the use of SGARs on City-owned property may be obtained
from the Board of Health Department. Emergency waivers shall be restricted in time
and location and shall only be granted after a well-documented request detailing a
significant rodent infestation of public health consequence that has already exhausted
all viable less-toxic integrated pest and rodent management practices.
All provisions of the Code of the City of Marlborough, as amended, which are consistent
with this Ordinance, shall continue in effect but all provisions of said Code inconsistent
herewith are repealed.
This Ordinance shall take effect upon its passage in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 43 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as amended.
Motion by Councilor Irish, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED: That the Grant Acceptance in the amount of $24,974.04 (Twenty-four thousand, nine
hundred seventy-four dollars and four cents) from the Executive Office of Public Safety &
Security and the Department of Fire Services awarded to the Fire Department to be used to
purchase protective gear for city firefighters, APPROVED; adopted.
IN CITY COUNCIL 3 MARCH 10, 2025
Motion by Councilor Navin, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED: That the Communication from the Mayor, re: Proposed Order on the Naming of
Veteran City Squares throughout the city, referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE; adopted.
That pursuant to City Ordinance Sec. 551-1, the City Council hereby approves the
naming of the following public City Squares and Places:
(i) The corner of Farm Road and Broadmeadow Road, Marlborough, shall henceforth
be named and known as the Phillip David Brodeur Square. Said naming is in honor
of Marlborough High School Graduate and United States Naval Aviator Phillip David
Brodeur; and
(ii) The corner of Bolton Street and Union Street, Marlborough, shall henceforth be
named and known as the Clarence Hinkson Square. Said naming is in honor of
Clarence Hinkson who served in the United States Coast Guard; and
(iii) The corner of Lincoln Street and Highland Avenue, Marlborough, shall henceforth
be named and known as the Amedee L’Ecuyer Square. Said naming is in honor of
Amedee L’Ecuyer, Killed in Action during World War I; and
(iv) The corner of Main Street and Hildreth Street, Marlborough, shall henceforth be
named and known as Mark Joseph Cintolo Square. Said naming is in honor of
Marlborough High School Graduate Mark Joseph Cintolo who served in the United
States Army; and
(v) The corner of Bolton Street and Reservoir Street, Marlborough, shall henceforth be
named and known as Charles Demeter Cosma. Said naming is in honor of Charles
Demeter Cosma, Killed in Action in Vignot, France; and
(vi) The corner of South Bolton Street and Bridge Street, Marlborough, shall henceforth
be named and known as Alfred Desmarais Square. Said naming is in honor of Alfred
Desmarais who served in the Canadian Army; and
(vii) The corner of Stevens Street and Old Charter Road, Marlborough, shall henceforth
be named and known as Arthur Charles Beausoleil Square. Said naming is in honor
of Arthur Charles Beausoleil who served in the United States Army; and
(viii) The corner of Stevens Street and Union Street, Marlborough, shall henceforth be
named and known as David H. Bishop Square. Said naming is in honor of David H.
Bishop who served in the United States Army; and
(ix) The plaza behind City Hall, 140 Main Street, Marlborough, shall henceforth be
named and known as the Gold Star Families Plaza. Said naming is in honor of the
Marlborough Gold Star Families.
Motion by Councilor Robey, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED: That the Communication from Assistant City Solicitor Jeremy McManus, re:
Application for Special Permit from Attorney Christopher Flood, on behalf of Anibal E.
Guillermo Sacor, to convert an existing two-family residential property located at 30 Maple
Street to a three-family residential property, Order No. 24/25-1009298E, MOVED TO
ITEM #15 & FILE; adopted.
IN CITY COUNCIL 4 MARCH 10, 2025
Motion by Councilor Robey, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED: That the Communication from Assistant City Solicitor Jeremy McManus, re:
Application for Special Permit from Marlborough Maple Real Estate Trust, for a Drive-
Thru Window in an existing building to add a café at 420 Maple Street, in proper legal
form, Order No. 24/25-1009317B, MOVED TO ITEM #14 & FILE; adopted.
Motion by Councilor Doucette, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED: That the Minutes of following Boards, Commissions and Committees, FILE;
adopted.
a) School Committee, February 11, 2025.
b) Cultural Council, November 12, 2024, December 3, 2024 & January 14, 2025.
c) Planning Board, January 6, 2025, January 27, 2025.
d) Zoning Board of Appeals, March 4, 2025.
Motion by Councilor Brown, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED: That the following CLAIMS, referred to the LEGAL DEPARTMENT; adopted.
a) Eric Albano, 320 Bigelow Street, pothole or other road defect.
b) William Avila, 78 Linda Circle, pothole or other road defect.
c) Tony Cerqueira, 34 Marien Lane, residential mailbox claim (2a).
d) Scott Donovan, 18 Evelina Drive, residential mailbox claim (2a).
e) Marc Kimball, 40 Libby Avenue, pothole or other road defect.
f) Bryan Roy, 69 Houde Street, residential mailbox claim (2b).
g) Theodore Townsend, 68 Prospect Street, other property damage and/or personal
injury.
Councilor Irish reported the following out of the Finance Committee:
City Council Finance Committee
March 03, 2025
Minutes and Report
This meeting convened at 7:00 PM and was held in the City Council Chamber and open to the
public. The meeting was televised live on WMCT-TV (Comcast Channel 8 or Verizon/Fios
Channel 34) and available for viewing on their website, https://www.wmct-tv.com.
Voting Members: Chair Irish, Councilors Fuccillo, Brown, Oram and Vital
Non-Voting Members: Councilors Ossing, Navin, Doucette
WMCT-TV Director, Ryan Maylar addressed the operating and capital budgets.
Order No. 25-1009375: Communication from Mayor Dumais together with a Transfer
request in the amount of Six Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Twelve Dollars
and Twenty-Four Cents ($626,812.24) from PEG Funds to the Marlborough Cable Trust to
fund the operating and capital budgets of the WMCT-TV for FY2026.
IN CITY COUNCIL 5 MARCH 10, 2025
Reports of Committee Continued:
Chair Irish read the letter from Mayor Dumais. Director Maylar stated there is a slight decrease in
the operating budget but a significant increase in the capital budget to fund technology
improvements. Councilors discussed the history of PEG (Public Educational and Government
Access Channels) and concerns for future funding as cable customers leave in favor of streaming
platforms. Director Maylar explained that there have been bills before the state legislature that
were filed, but not adopted, that would add a five percent fee to streaming platforms to fund cable
television.
On a motion by Councilor Oram, seconded by the chair, the committee recommended approval of
the transfer in the amount of $626,812.24 from PEG funds to the Marlborough Cable Trust to fund
the operating and capital budgets of the WMCT-TV for FY2026. Vote 5-0.
Order No. 25-1009358: Communication from City Council President Ossing with proposed
amendment to Municipal Aggregation Order No.19-1007578B.
Councilor Ossing addressed the proposed amendment to Municipal Aggregation Order No.19-
1007578B and distributed a packet titled, “Municipal Aggregation Order Enhancements” dated
3/3/25.
On a motion by Councilor Brown, seconded by the chair, the committee recommended approval
of the amended order. Vote 5-0.
A copy of the amended order is attached to the Finance Committee report.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn; the meeting adjourned at 7:37 PM.
Motion by Councilor Navin, to move the recommendation of the Personnel Committee to
approve the following, seconded by the Chair:
ORDERED: That the Appointment of Douglas E. Philpott to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a
5-year term to expire from the date of Council confirmation (March 10, 2030),
APPROVED; adopted.
Motion by Councilor Navin, to move the recommendation of the Personnel Committee to
approve the following, seconded by the Chair:
ORDERED: That the Appointment of E. William Baker to the Community Development
Authority as the Tenant Representative for a 3-year term to expire from the date of Council
confirmation (March 10, 2028), APPROVED; adopted.
Motion by Councilor Navin, to move the recommendation of the Personnel Committee to
approve the following, seconded by the Chair:
ORDERED: That the Appointment of Ann M. Maichin to the Council on Aging for a 4-year
term to expire May 7, 2029, APPROVED; adopted.
IN CITY COUNCIL 6 MARCH 10, 2025
Motion by Councilor Robey, to move the recommendation of the Urban Affairs Committee to
approve the following, seconded by the Chair:
ORDERED:
IN CITY COUNCIL
NOTICE OF DECISION
GRANT OF SPECIAL PERMIT
ORDER NO. 24/25-1009317C
Application of:
Marlborough Maple Real Estate Trust
Post Office Box 95
Newton Upper Falls, MA
Locus:
420 Maple Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
Assessors Map 93, Parcel(s) 67A
DECISION ON A SPECIAL PERMIT
The City Council of the City of Marlborough hereby GRANTS the application for a Special Permit
to Marlborough Maple Real Estate Trust (the “Applicant”) for one (1) drive-through service
window for a coffee shop cafe located at 420 Maple Street, Marlborough, Massachusetts, as
provided in this Decision and subject to the following Procedural Findings and Findings of Facts
and Conditions.
FINDINGS OF FACT AND RULING
1. The Applicant is a duly organized and existing real estate trust having a mailing address
of PO Box 95 Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464.
2. The Applicant is the owner of the property at 420 Maple Street, Marlborough
Massachusetts, being shown as Parcel 67A on Assessors Map 93 (the “Site”).
3. The Applicant proposes to utilize a portion of an existing structure on the Site to operate
a coffee shop cafe with one (1) drive-through service window (the “Project”).
4. The Site is located in the Commercial Automotive Zoning District as determined by the
Zoning Map of the City of Marlborough.
5. The Applicant’s use of the Site as a restaurant with a drive-through service window is
allowed by special permit pursuant to Sections 650-14.B(2) and 650-17 of the Zoning
Ordinance.
6. The Applicant filed with the City Clerk of the City of Marlborough an Application for a
Special Permit (“Application”). In connection with the Application, the Applicant
submitted a certified list of abutters, filing fees, architectural drawings entitled “Cafe at
420 Maple Street” by LaFreniere Architects, dated October 31, 2024, and subsequently
submitted electronically to the City Council a detailed site plan entitled “Drive-Thru
Renovation Site Plan” by Samiotes Consultants, Inc., dated October 30, 2024 (the
“Plans”), attached hereto as “ATTACHMENT A.”
IN CITY COUNCIL 7 MARCH 10, 2025
7. The Application was certified by the Building Commissioner of the City of Marlborough,
acting on behalf of the City Planner for the City of Marlborough, in accordance with the
Rules and Regulations promulgated by the City Council for the issuance of a Special
Permit.
8. Pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the City Council for the City of Marlborough
and applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City Council
established a date for public hearing on the Application and the City Clerk for the City
of Marlborough caused notice of the same to be advertised and determined that notice of
the same was provided to abutters entitled thereto in accordance with applicable
regulations and law.
9. The Marlborough City Council, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40A,
held a public hearing on the application on Monday, January 27, 2025. The hearing was
closed on January 27, 2025.
10. The Applicant, through its representatives, presented testimony at the public hearing
detailing the Project, describing its impact upon municipal services, the neighborhood,
and traffic. One member of the public asked clarifying questions including questions
regarding roasting on the premises, seating in the café, signs, directional signage and
pavement arrows, and parking. No members of the public spoke in opposition to the
Project.
BASED ON THE ABOVE, THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES THE FOLLOWING
FINDINGS AND TAKES THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
A. The Applicant has complied with all Rules and Regulations promulgated by the
Marlborough City Council as they pertain to special permit applications.
B. The City Council finds that the proposed use of the Site is an appropriate use and in
harmony with the general purpose and intent of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of
Marlborough when subject to the appropriate terms and conditions as provided herein.
The City Council makes these findings subject to the completion and adherence by the
Applicant, its successors and/or assigns to the conditions more fully set forth herein.
C. The City Council, pursuant to its authority under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter
40A and the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Marlborough hereby GRANTS the
Applicant a Special Permit to operate one (1) drive-through service window as shown on
the Plans filed, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, which conditions
shall be binding on the Applicant, its successors and/or assigns:
1. Construction in Accordance with Applicable Laws. Construction of all structures
on the Site shall be in accordance with all applicable Building Codes and Zoning
Regulations in effect in the City of Marlborough and the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and shall be built according to the Plans as may be amended during
Site Plan Review.
2. Compliance with Applicable Laws. The Applicant, its successors and/or assigns
agrees to comply with all municipal, state, and federal rules, regulations, statutes,
and ordinances as they may apply to the construction, maintenance, and operation
of the Project.
IN CITY COUNCIL 8 MARCH 10, 2025
3. Site Plan Review. The issuance of the Special Permit is further subject to detailed
Site Plan Review in accordance with the City of Marlborough Site Plan Review
Ordinance prior to the issuance of the building permit. Any additional changes,
alterations, modifications or amendments, as required during the process of Site
Plan Review, shall be further conditions attached to the building permit, and no
occupancy permit shall be issued until the Applicant has complied with all
conditions. Subsequent Site Plan Review shall be consistent with the conditions of
this Special Permit and the Plans submitted, reviewed and approved by the City
Council as the Special Permit Granting Authority.
4. Modification of Plans. Notwithstanding conditions #1 and #3 above, the Site Plan
Review Committee may make engineering changes to the Plans, so long as said
changes do not change the use of the Project as approved herein, or materially
increase the impervious area of the Project, reduce the green area, alter traffic flow,
increase the size, shape or position of the building, or alter the fencing bordering
the property, all as shown on the Plans.
5. Signs and Awnings. The locations and design of signage shall be reviewed and
approved by the City of Marlborough in accordance with the Sign Ordinance of the
City of Marlborough without variance therefrom except as herein provided. No
posters, graphics, lettering or any other form of advertising shall be affixed to
windows or hanging inside or in front of windows.
6. Incorporation of Submissions. All plans, photo renderings, site evaluations, briefs
and other documentation provided by the Applicant as part of the Application, and
as amended or revised during the application/hearing process before the City
Council and/or the City Council’s Urban Affairs Committee, including exhibits
thereto, are herein incorporated into and become a part of this Special Permit and
become conditions and requirements of the same, unless otherwise altered by the
City Council.
7. Hours of Operation. The hours of operation for the restaurant and the drive-through
window shall not exceed Monday through Sunday, 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM. There
will be no 24-hour operation.
8. Traffic Signage and Pavement Markings. The location and placement of pavement
markings and traffic directional signage shall be reviewed and approved by the City
of Marlborough during Site Plan Review in accordance with applicable rules and
regulations of the City of Marlborough.
9. Parking. Parking areas shall be swept and maintained in good condition by the
Applicant, its successors and/or assigns as necessary. The Applicant, its successors
and/or assigns shall be responsible for providing, installing and maintaining all
signage and pavement markings shown on the Plans and as required by the Site
Plan Review Committee. Such signage or markings shall meet the standards of the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
10. No Overnight Parking. There shall be no overnight parking at the Site associated
with the Project.
IN CITY COUNCIL 9 MARCH 10, 2025
11. Drive-Through Speakers. The drive-through window shall employ a pedestal
speaker system that automatically adjusts to the ambient noise so as to minimize
the noise emanating from the speaker system to levels comporting with the Noise
Ordinance of the City of Marlborough. The drive-through audio speakers shall not
produce noise at the rear property line of the plaza, shown as Map 93, Parcel 67A
on the Assessors’ Map of the City of Marlborough, greater than that which would
be allowed in a residential zone pursuant to the Noise Ordinance of the City of
Marlborough.
12. Deliveries. In order to mitigate noise concerns for residential abutters, no deliveries
to the Site by semi-trailers shall occur prior to 7:00 AM or after 7:00 PM.
13. Lighting. All lighting and illumination shall be in accordance with the requirements
of the Code of the City of Marlborough.
14. Landscaping. The Applicant, its successors and/or assigns agrees to plant and
maintain in good condition the Project’s landscaping substantially in conformance
with the Plans and as required by the Site Plan Review Committee. The Applicant,
its successors and/or assigns shall comply with all landscaping requirements of the
Code of the City of Marlborough.
15. Trash. Applicant, its successors and/or assigns agrees to keep dumpsters covered
and to screen the Project’s trash area by constructing a dumpster enclosure of a
design compatible with the building. Applicant, its successors and/or assigns
further agrees that the dumpsters located on the Site shall be covered. No trash
pickup shall occur before 7:00 AM or after 7:00 PM.
16. Snow Removal. Applicant, its successors and/or assigns shall maintain and conduct
snow storage and removal on the Site and shall store or remove snow as necessary
to provide for clear and safe traffic flow on the Site.
17. Recording of Decision In accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General
Laws Chapter 40A, Section 11, the Applicant its successors and/or assigns, at its
expense shall record this Special Permit in the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds
after the City Clerk has certified that the twenty-day period for appealing this
Special Permit has elapsed with no appeal having been filed, and before the
Applicant has applied to the Building Commissioner for a building permit. Upon
recording, the Applicant, its affiliates, successors and/or assigns shall forthwith
provide a copy of the recorded Special Permit to the City Council office, the
Building Department, and the City Solicitor’s office
Yea: 10 – Nay: 0 – Absent: 1
Yea: Vital, Doucette, Preciado, Brown, Irish, Fuccillo, Navin, Oram, Ossing & Robey.
Absent: Landers.
IN CITY COUNCIL 10 MARCH 10, 2025
Motion by Councilor Robey, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED:
IN CITY COUNCIL
NOTICE OF DECISION
DENIAL OF SPECIAL PERMIT
ORDER NO. 24/25-1009298F
Application of:
Special Permit Application of:
Anibal E. Guillermo Sacor
177 West Main Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
Locus:
30 Maple Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
Assessors Map 70, Parcel(s) 453
DECISION ON A SPECIAL PERMIT
The City Council of the City of Marlborough hereby DENIES the Application for a Special Permit
to Anibal E. Guillermo Sacor (“Applicant”) for a conversion of a two-family residence building to
a three-family at 30 Maple Street, Marlborough, as provided in this Decision.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The Applicant, Anibal E. Guillermo Sacor, is an individual with an address of 177 West
Main Street, Marlborough, MA.
2. The Applicant is the owner of the property located at 30 Maple Street, Marlborough, MA,
being shown as Parcel 453 on Assessors Map 70 (the “Site”).
3. The Site is located in the Residence C (“RC”) Zoning District.
4. In accordance with Section 650-17 and 650-18(A)(3) of the City Code of the City of
Marlborough (“Zoning Ordinance”), Applicant seeks to convert a two-family residence
building to a three-family dwelling at the property (the “Use”).
5. Conversion of a two-family residence building to a three-family is allowed by Special
Permit in the RC Zoning District.
6. The Applicant, by and through its counsel, filed with City Clerk of the City of
Marlborough an Application for a Special Permit (“Application”) for the Use.
7. In connection with the Application, the Applicant submitted a certified list of abutters,
filing fees, and a detailed site plan entitled “30 Maple Street Marlboro” by Chapel
Engineering Associates LLC with the last revision date of September 10, 2024 (the
“Plans”).
8. The Application was certified by the Building Commissioner of the City of Marlborough,
acting on behalf of the City Planner for the City of Marlborough, as having complied
with the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the City Council for the issuance of a
Special Permit.
IN CITY COUNCIL 11 MARCH 10, 2025
9. Pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the City Council for the City of Marlborough
and applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City Council
established a date for a public hearing on the Application and the City Clerk for the City
of Marlborough caused notice of the same to be advertised and determined that notice of
the same was provided to abutters entitled thereto in accordance with applicable
regulations and law.
10. The Marlborough City Council, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A,
opened a public hearing on the Application on Monday, December 2, 2024. The hearing
was closed on that date.
11. The Applicant, through its representatives, presented testimony at the public hearing
detailing the Use, describing its impact upon municipal services, the neighborhood, and
traffic.
12. At the public hearing, two members of the public spoke in opposition to the Use.
BASED ON THE ABOVE, THE CITY COUNCIL MAKES THE FOLLOWING
FINDINGS AND TAKES THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
A. The City Council, pursuant to its authority under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter
40A and the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Marlborough hereby DENIES the
Applicant a Special Permit for conversion of a two-family residence building to a three-
family. The bases for the denial are the following reasons and findings:
1. The Site currently contains multiple structures: (1) a legal two-family residence
building; (2) a separate structure (“Separate Structure”); and (3) a garage.
2. The Use proposes to convert the legal two-family residence building to a three-
family by adding a dwelling unit to the Separate Structure. The Use does not
propose to alter the legal two-family residence building.
3. Section 650-18(A)(3) of the Zoning Ordinance allows “[t]he conversion of a one-
or two-family residence building to accommodate not more than three dwelling
units, provided that: (a) The exterior one- or two-family character of the building is
not altered and no major structural change is made in the exterior other than is
necessary to provide means of egress from each unit as required by the Building
Code. Stairways, unless in the rear of the building, shall be located within the walls
of the building and, on corner lots, shall be within the walls of the building. (b)
There is at least 600 square feet of floor area for each dwelling unit and provided
further that each dwelling unit has separate toilet and cooking facilities.”
4. The City Council finds that the legal meaning of a “three-family” in the Zoning
Ordinance is a single structure containing three dwelling units.
5. The City Council finds that the Use, consisting of converting two dwelling units in
one dwelling by adding a dwelling unit to another dwelling, fails to meet the legal
meaning of a “three-family” in Section 650-18(A)(3) of the Zoning Ordinance.
6. The City Council finds that the Use fails to meet the conditions for use in Section
650-18(A)(3) of the Zoning Ordinance, and therefore the City Council does not
have the authority to authorize the Use by special permit.
IN CITY COUNCIL 12 MARCH 10, 2025
B. Incorporation of Submissions. All minutes, reports, documents, recordings, and
submittals before, or made by, the City Council and/or the City Council’s Urban Affairs
Committee, are incorporated into this decision.
Yea: 10 – Nay: 0 – Absent: 1
Yea: Vital, Doucette, Preciado, Brown, Irish, Fuccillo, Navin, Oram, Ossing & Robey.
Absent: Landers.
Motion by Councilor Navin, seconded by the Chair to adopt the following:
ORDERED There being no further business, the regular meeting of the City Council is herewith
adjourned at 9:28 PM; adopted.
Get email alerts for Marlborough
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.