Zoning Board of Appeals

City of Taunton, MA 141 Oak Street, Taunton, MA 02780 ph: (508) 821­1000 10­9­14 minutes MINUTES ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS October 9, 2014 at 6:00 pm. (held at Maxham School, 141 Oak St, Taunton, Ma.) Meeting opens at 6:00 PM Members Present: Dennis Ackerman, Steven Vieira,,Wayne Berube , Michael Staples and George Moniz , and Joseph Amaral. Chairman Ackerman explains the ZBA process. The petitioner presents their case, they listen to opposition & people in favor and then go back to petitioner to address any concerns of the opposition. They do not go back and forth. Wayne made motion to accept minutes of September 4, 2014 seconded by mike. All in favor. Request for 6­month extension ­ Case # 3205 – for property at 245 Highland Street – Lot 1 on corner of Clark Street and Floyd Avenue Wayne made motion to grant6­month extension, seconded by Mike. All in favor. Cont’d. Case # 3235 Koss 44 Dean St. Prop. I.D. 55­756 & 55­757 A Variance from Section 7.1.2; 7.3.1; 17.4; 17.4.4; 17.6.6; 17.6.8; 17.6.9 & 7.11 of the Zoning Ordinance for the development of a parcel located in the Transit Oriented Development Overlay District. Said development having less than the required parking lot landscaping, 90 parking spaces (instead of 120); a five (5) story building 55’ in height (instead of 3 stories, with 40’ in height); residential units on ground floor (instead of parking or commercial space on ground floor); parking in front of building (instead of behind building); building not situated parallel or perpendicular to street; building situated away from street (instead of close to street) a reduction of landscaping buffer from 15 feet to 7.5. Letter requesting one final continuance and extending the time frame on which to act on this proposal. Motion made and seconded to Grant one final continuance . All in favor. Case #2897­Modification Barbour 12 First St. For: A modification of a previously approved variance and allow a 20­family dwelling (duplex) on a lot having 57.75 feet of frontage and lot width (instead of 100 feet) For the Petitioner: John Barbour, representing Tanios Barbour, 21 Second St., Taunton, Ma. In favor: None Opposed: None John stated this Board granted variance to divide the lot and since them this house has been empty. They have tried to sell and rent it. John states there will be no structural changes because it already has 2 entrances and it’s all set up for 2­family. They wish to make it a 2­family and sell or rent it to help with finances. Wayne stated the Board approved it for a single family. John states he wasn’t involved in original request. He didn’t know how it was presented like that but it was. He says there will be no changes because it’s all set up for 2­family with wall and 2 bedrooms on both sides. Wayne asked why is it empty? John says it cause of the long narrowness of house and the way it‘s set up. There is a 2 car garage underneath. John said it has no kitchen and if approved they will put in. The Board was not happy with the applicant to took it upon himself to set it up like a two­family without approval. Chairman Ackerman what makes you think you can rent it as 2­family when they can’t rent as single family? John stated we did fine single renter, he misspoke earlier. He stated the neighborhood is make up of multifamilies. The structure is 27’ x 60’. Joe asked how many bedrooms? Johna answers 4, proposing 2 for each unit. Joe asked what year was it built and John answers 2011. Joe asked if it was near Second Street near railroad track and he answers yes. Wayne asked if it was 2 stories and he answers yes but it’s set up for 2 units. He stated his dad is 74 years old and this is a heavy burden on him. They had it on market and could rent one side but they don’t think it’s a good idea to rent just one side. No one in favor or opposed. Chairman Ackerman read letters from the City Planner, B.O.H., Conservation Commission into the record. Wayne thought it was too small and to cut it up to make two smaller units is not a positive thing for the neighborhood. Mike wanted to know how they got away with building it was 2 family? Vote: Vieira, Ackerman, Amaral, ......... …Yes Berube, Staples………………………..no Petition denied: Case #3250 Ferreira 26 Myrtle St. For: A Variance from Section 7.8 of the Zoning Ordinance for a dwelling conversion of a 2­family to a 3­family on a lot having 9,000 square feet (instead of 15,000 sq. ft.) For the Petitioner: John DeLano, John DeLano & Associates, 27 Jefferson St., Taunton, Ma. John Ferreira, 26 Myrtle St., Taunton, Ma. In favor: None Opposed: None Mr. DeLano stated he prepared plot plan showing parking on property. The proposal is to convert the 2 –family house to a 3­family house. Joe asked how many bedrooms are there? Mr. Ferreira answers 8 total, 3Bedroom on First & second floor and third floor. Wayne asked if he lived there and Mr. Ferreira answers yes on first floor. Chairman Ackerman asked if he has 6 parking spaces and Mr. DeLano answers yes. Wayne asked if Mr. Ferreira was retired and he answers yes. No one in favor or opposed. Chairman Ackerman read letters from the City Planner, B.O.H., Conservation Commission into the record. Vote: Ackerman, Amaral, Vieira, Berube ,Staples….Yes. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm .