Boston Zoning Board of Appeal October 22, 2026 Subcommittee Hearing
2026-10-22

[0:00] All right.
[0:10] Thank you.
[0:16] Good evening. The city of Boston zoning
[0:18] board of appeal hearing for October
[0:20] 22nd, 2026 is now in session. This
[0:23] hearing is being conducted in accordance
[0:25] with the applicable provisions of the
[0:27] open meeting law, including the updated
[0:29] provisions enacted by the legislature
[0:31] this year. The new law allows the board
[0:33] to continue its practice of holding
[0:35] virtual hearings through June 2027. This
[0:38] hearing of the board is being held
[0:39] remotely via the Zoom webinar event
[0:41] platform. This hearing is also being
[0:43] recorded.
[0:47] In order to ensure this hearing of the
[0:49] board is open to the public, members of
[0:51] the public may access this hearing
[0:53] through telephone and video
[0:55] conferencing. The information for
[0:57] connecting to this hearing is listed on
[0:59] today's hearing agenda, which is posted
[1:00] on the public notices page of the city's
[1:02] website, boston.gov. Members of the
[1:05] public will enter the virtual hearing as
[1:07] attendees, which means you will not see
[1:09] yourself on the screen, and you will be
[1:11] muted throughout unless administratively
[1:13] unmuted when asked to comment. Board
[1:14] members, applicants, and their attorneys
[1:16] or representatives will participate in
[1:18] this hearing as panelists, and they will
[1:21] appear alongside the presentation
[1:22] materials when speaking. Panelists are
[1:24] strongly encouraged to keep video on
[1:27] while presenting to the board.
[1:30] [clears throat]
[1:32] As with our in-person meetings, comments
[1:33] in support will be followed by comments
[1:35] in opposition. The order of comments is
[1:37] as follows: elected officials,
[1:39] representatives of elected officials,
[1:41] and members of the public. The chair may
[1:43] limit the number of people called upon
[1:45] to offer comment and the time for
[1:46] commenting as time constraints require.
[1:49] For that reason, the board prefers to
[1:50] hear from members of the public who are
[1:52] most impacted by a project. That is
[1:54] those individuals who live closest to
[1:56] the project.
[1:59] If you wish to comment on an appeal,
[2:01] please click the raise hand button along
[2:03] the bottom of your screen in the Zoom
[2:04] webinar platform. Click it again and
[2:06] your hand should go down. When the host
[2:08] sees your hand, you will receive a
[2:10] request to unmute yourself. Select yes
[2:12] and you should be able to talk. If you
[2:14] are connected to the hearing by
[2:16] telephone, please press star 9 to raise
[2:18] and lower your hand. You must press star
[2:20] six to unmute yourself after you receive
[2:23] the request from the host. Those called
[2:25] upon to comment will be asked to state
[2:26] their name and address first and then
[2:28] can provide their comment.
[2:31] [clears throat]
[2:32] In the interest of time and to ensure
[2:34] that you have enough time to do so,
[2:36] please raise your hand as soon as Mr.
[2:37] Stebridge reads the address into the
[2:39] record. Do not raise your hand before
[2:41] the relevant address is called or the
[2:43] meeting host will not know to call on
[2:44] you at the appropriate time. We ask that
[2:46] you keep your comments brief and all
[2:48] public testimony will be limited to 90
[2:50] seconds uh per speaker.
[2:53] Mr. Stebridge.
[2:56] Good evening, Madam Chair. President,
[2:58] good evening. Miss Better Braza.
[3:00] Good evening, Madam Chair. President,
[3:02] good evening. Uh Mr. Stebridge, the
[3:04] floor is yours.
[3:06] Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, we'll begin
[3:10] with the hearing scheduled for 55 p.m.
[3:13] this evening. Um, Madame Chair, I have a
[3:17] note on the first case, which is case
[3:20] BOA
[3:22] 1862080
[3:26] with the address of 85 Champ Street.
[3:30] Um we have a note from the staff that um
[3:35] we have to move this case. Uh the
[3:38] attorney representing the client uh is
[3:41] sick and won't be able to make make uh
[3:44] this evening's hearing. So, um, this
[3:48] case is going to be moved to November
[3:52] 17th at 9:30 a.m. And I will make a
[3:56] motion, um, that this case be moved to
[4:00] November 17th at 9:30 a.m.
[4:03] Okay. May I have a second?
[4:05] Barza. Second.
[4:07] Okay. Mr. Stebridge.
[4:09] Yes.
[4:11] Brazo.
[4:11] Yes.
[4:13] Chair votes yes. The motion carries.
[4:20] So with that, if we can move on to the
[4:22] next case,
[4:30] which will take us to case BOA 187 29 1
[4:36] N with the address of 10 to 18 Bowden
[4:40] Street. If the applicants andor their
[4:43] representative are present, would they
[4:45] please explain the case to the board?
[4:48] Hi. Hello. Hello member of the board. My
[4:52] name Lucy, the res uh the owner of the
[4:55] the cafe at the at the unit 16 at the
[4:59] address. And um we here today to request
[5:03] a conditional use zoning relief um from
[5:07] the board allow the restaurant to um
[5:10] open uh to to allow us to open a
[5:13] restaurant here. Uh before is the the
[5:16] zoning for retail only but now we would
[5:19] like to train to the restaurant um to we
[5:22] um our business will offer a coffee
[5:24] bobati um fresh truth and some light
[5:28] food and um the business it desire
[5:31] primary for tech only and there will be
[5:34] no seating inside the the the store but
[5:38] um we will provide um waiting area for
[5:40] customer to come waiting and pick up the
[5:43] orders. Um uh our posted opening time
[5:46] from 7:00 am to 7 pm and um uh besides
[5:52] we also complete the neighborhood
[5:54] community process and require for the
[5:57] application and we um we communicate
[6:00] with the neighborhood associations and
[6:02] their members and explain our business
[6:05] plans and receive a support from some of
[6:08] the associations. Um and through the
[6:12] conversation with the team with the
[6:14] association members uh we heard that
[6:16] direct directly from them that they
[6:18] really want to have the best type of
[6:21] business in the area. Um so our proposed
[6:25] um our work includes framing, heating,
[6:28] electrical and sprinkler work associated
[6:30] with the cafe as reflect in our permit
[6:33] application and plans as you can see on
[6:35] the screen. So um we respectful as the
[6:41] board to approve the request to the
[6:43] conditional use relief so we can
[6:45] continue the necessary permitting
[6:47] process and bring the cafe to serve the
[6:50] community as soon as possible. Um thank
[6:52] you for your time and consideration.
[6:55] We're happy to answer any question.
[6:58] Thank you. Are there questions from the
[7:00] board?
[7:01] Uh one question madam chair. Um all the
[7:04] work all the work it's going to be done
[7:07] is going to be done inside
[7:10] inside the premise.
[7:11] Yeah.
[7:12] Yeah. Inside.
[7:14] Okay.
[7:16] Thank you.
[7:19] With that, I'll open it to public
[7:21] testimony.
[7:22] Madam Chair and members of the board,
[7:23] for the record, my name is Jeremy
[7:25] Bereie. I serve as the community
[7:26] engagement specialist for the Office of
[7:28] Neighborhood Services. The applicant has
[7:30] completed the community process which
[7:31] consisted of an mayor's office of
[7:33] neighborhood services subcommittee
[7:34] notification flyer informing residents
[7:37] of the proponent's intent to which no
[7:38] feedback was received. Next, the
[7:40] proponent presented to Mount B and
[7:42] betterment association where they
[7:43] supported the proposal. To date, our
[7:45] office has received two letters of
[7:46] support from the Mount Bo and Betterment
[7:48] Association and the Greater Cardman the
[7:50] Greater Chamberlain uh Neighborhood
[7:52] Association. Thank you for your time and
[7:53] the mayor's office of neighborhood
[7:54] services would like to defer to the
[7:56] board for their judgment.
[7:58] Thank you,
[7:58] Madame Chair. No additional comments.
[8:01] Okay. With that, may I have a motion?
[8:04] Madam Chair, I'd like to put forward a
[8:05] motion of approval.
[8:07] I have a second.
[8:08] Second.
[8:09] Mr. Stebridge.
[8:11] Yes.
[8:12] Miss Better Braza.
[8:14] Yes.
[8:15] Chair votes yes. The motion carries.
[8:16] Good luck, ma'am.
[8:18] I don't know what it is.
[8:20] When you look over, please.
[8:25] Next we have case BOA
[8:28] 1862299
[8:32] with the address of 21 Street. If the
[8:36] applicant andor representative are
[8:39] present, would they please explain case
[8:41] of the board?
[8:43] Good afternoon, Madame Chair, members of
[8:45] the board. My name is Eileen Rosa with
[8:48] Rosa Design and Construction. I'm here
[8:50] on behalf of the applicant to present uh
[8:53] this proposal to alter the existing
[8:56] single family residence, construct an
[8:59] addition above the existing structure,
[9:01] and convert the property from a single
[9:03] family to a two family dwelling. This is
[9:06] a two f uh two family 5,000 square ft
[9:10] lot zone. The primary purpose of this
[9:13] project is to accommodate two family
[9:15] members in separate living spaces. Uh
[9:18] the second unit will be occupied by the
[9:20] property owner. Well, you
[9:26] this
[9:30] independent uh living units. The zoning
[9:35] review identifies uh seven items
[9:38] requiring relief, many of which relates
[9:40] to existing non-conforming uh
[9:43] non-conforming conditions including lot
[9:46] area and the front side and rear yard
[9:49] setbacks. Um this proposal also
[9:52] increases the floor area ratio from the
[9:54] existing 6 to 0.8 where the maximum
[9:59] allowed is 0.5.
[10:02] Additionally, the open usable space
[10:05] requirement is in this area is 750
[10:09] square ft per unit. The existing
[10:12] property provides 865 square ft while
[10:16] the proposed design provides
[10:19] approximately 330 square ft per unit.
[10:23] Unit one will contain approximately
[10:25] 1,020 square ft with two bedrooms, 1.5
[10:29] bathrooms. The second unit, which will
[10:31] be owner occupied, will contain
[10:34] approximately 2,145
[10:37] square ft. Um, this proposal also
[10:40] includes a twocar garage. Uh, from an
[10:44] architectural standpoint, uh, we intend
[10:46] to use exterior design elements that
[10:48] complement the surrounding neighborhood
[10:51] and help the proposed addition blend
[10:53] with the existing streetscape. And you
[10:56] can scroll down as I speak to we can
[10:59] take a look into the renderings and get
[11:01] a better idea of the proposal.
[11:06] Yep.
[11:08] Thank you.
[11:10] Yeah. And um the project was also
[11:12] presented to the civic association and
[11:15] feedback regarding green space and site
[11:17] improvements was considered as part of
[11:19] the design process. We have considered
[11:22] more environmental friendly driveway
[11:24] materials and include an on-site storm
[11:27] drain to address storm water management.
[11:30] [clears throat] Overall, this proposal
[11:32] is intended to accommodate the family's
[11:34] housing needs while improving the
[11:36] functionality of the property and
[11:38] remaining mindful of the neighborhood's
[11:41] character. Uh we respectfully ask the
[11:43] board to consider their proposal and
[11:45] appreciate your time and consideration.
[11:48] That's all we have for now. Now I'll
[11:50] move for any questions. Thank you.
[11:52] Thank you. Are there questions from the
[11:54] board?
[11:55] Hearing none, may I have public
[11:56] testimony?
[11:57] Madam chair and members of the board,
[11:59] for the record, my name is Jeremy
[12:00] Benbury. I'm the Doorchester community
[12:02] engagement specialist for the Office of
[12:03] Neighborhood Services. The applicant has
[12:05] completed the community process which
[12:06] consisted of an abuters meeting
[12:08] facilitated on April 16th, 2025 with one
[12:11] guest uh and no concerns were raised.
[12:13] Next, the proponent presented to Fields
[12:15] Corner Civic Association where they
[12:17] voted in conditional support for the
[12:19] proposal to build a new two family with
[12:21] the conditions the revised plan to show
[12:23] all proposed green space. The project
[12:25] provides an on-site storm drain and to
[12:28] provide their driveway with earth
[12:29] echofriendly material. To date, our
[12:32] office has received one letter of
[12:33] support from the Fields Corner Civic
[12:35] Association again signing the
[12:36] conditional support. Thank you for your
[12:38] time and the mayor's office of
[12:39] neighborhood services would like to
[12:40] defer to the board for their judgment.
[12:43] Thank you,
[12:44] Madam Chair. We don't have additional
[12:46] comments
[12:47] with that. May I have a motion?
[12:49] Madam Chair, I'd like to put for a
[12:50] motion of approval.
[12:52] I have a second.
[12:53] Second.
[12:55] Mr. Stebridge. [clears throat]
[12:57] Yes.
[12:58] M Brazza.
[13:00] Yes.
[13:01] Chair votes yes. The motion carries.
[13:03] Good luck.
[13:03] Thank you.
[13:06] Next we have case BOA1883829
[13:14] with the address of 18 Baker Avenue. If
[13:17] the applicant and with a representative
[13:20] present, would they please explain the
[13:21] case to the board?
[13:23] Hello. Good afternoon. My name is Joanne
[13:25] Wilkerson. Um I am here to get relief
[13:30] for two violations that were on the
[13:32] property. When I bought the property, um
[13:35] there was a large shed in the backyard.
[13:38] So, we had to have a new plot plan drawn
[13:42] up to um cover that. And
[13:46] it to legalize the existing shed and the
[13:49] storage of two bobcats which are used
[13:51] for personal property only and to add a
[13:54] curb cut for the driveway. That's all.
[13:57] There's no building or anything involved
[13:58] here.
[14:02] Are there questions for the
[14:03] I'm sorry.
[14:05] No, I don't have any questions.
[14:07] Yes. If you can just Can you tell us um
[14:10] how wide is your curb cut?
[14:14] 10 ft.
[14:14] 10 feet.
[14:16] Okay. Thank you.
[14:18] Thank you. Okay. With that, I'll take
[14:21] public testimony.
[14:22] Madame Chair and members of the board,
[14:23] for the record, my name is Jeremy
[14:24] Benbury. I'm the Doorchester community
[14:26] engagement specialist for the Office of
[14:28] Neighborhood Services. The applicant has
[14:29] completed the community process which
[14:31] consisted of an abutters meeting
[14:32] facilitated on August 27th with no
[14:34] abutters present. Following the abuters
[14:36] meeting, no further community process
[14:37] was required. Thank you for your time
[14:39] and the mayor's office of neighborhood
[14:40] services would like to defer to the
[14:41] board for their judgment.
[14:43] You,
[14:44] Madame Chair, we don't have additional
[14:46] comments.
[14:48] Okay. With that, may I have a motion?
[14:52] Madam Chair, I'm going to put forward a
[14:54] motion of approval with BPD design
[14:57] review to look at the screening on the
[15:00] proposed property.
[15:03] We have a second.
[15:06] Mr. Stebridge,
[15:08] yes.
[15:09] Miss Better Braza,
[15:10] yes.
[15:12] Chair votes yes. The motion carries.
[15:13] Good luck, ma'am.
[15:14] Thank you. Thank you for your help.
[15:16] Appreciate it.
[15:19] Next we have case BOA
[15:22] 1777438
[15:27] with the address of 68 Theodore Parker
[15:30] Road. If the applicant andor their
[15:33] representative are present, would they
[15:35] please explain to the board?
[15:38] Yes. Hello. Um, we are just looking to
[15:41] add a uh dormer to the uh attic so we
[15:46] can finish the attic for more living
[15:48] space and then just adding a small mud
[15:51] room in the back of our house um against
[15:54] for more for more storage. But that's
[15:55] that's it.
[15:58] Okay, thank you. Questions from board?
[16:02] May I have public testimony?
[16:04] Madam Chair and board members, Sigy
[16:05] Johnson with the Office of Neighborhood
[16:07] Services. This petitioner completed the
[16:08] community process. Our office oversaw
[16:10] distribution of anformational flyer to
[16:12] all of Butters in a 300 ft radius which
[16:15] solicited no comments to our office. The
[16:17] West Roxbury Neighborhood Council is
[16:19] supporting this application. With that
[16:20] background, ONS defers judgment to the
[16:22] board. Thank you.
[16:24] Thank you,
[16:25] Madame Chair. Uh there are no additional
[16:28] comments.
[16:29] With that, may I have a motion?
[16:32] Madam Chair, I'd like to put for a
[16:33] motion of approval.
[16:35] May I have a second? Second,
[16:38] Mr. Stebridge.
[16:40] Yes,
[16:41] M. Raza.
[16:42] Yes.
[16:44] Chair votes yes. The motion carries.
[16:45] Good luck.
[16:46] Thank you.
[16:49] Next, we have case BOA
[16:52] 186 2338
[16:56] with the address of 11 Alter Crest Road.
[17:00] If the applicant and or the
[17:02] representative are present, would they
[17:03] please explain to the board?
[17:07] Hello. Yes, we are the uh owners of 11
[17:09] Altar Crest. Um we're requesting to
[17:11] widen the curb of our driveway from 12
[17:14] to 14 ft. Uh this approve this uh 14t
[17:18] width is already approved by a public
[17:20] works department. Um and uh you can see
[17:24] in the diagram there that uh
[17:27] if you zoom in towards the bottom
[17:29] possibly you can kind of see the
[17:32] difference. Um, our
[17:36] retaining wall was widened and now
[17:38] there's a a curb jutting out and uh we
[17:42] had the the driveway widened be uh
[17:47] and then found out that we may need to
[17:48] go through this approval process.
[17:52] So, I'm sorry. Can you explain why you
[17:54] need it widened? Why does it need to be
[17:56] widened?
[17:57] Uh, yes. Uh so the because of the
[17:59] tapering of the wall uh we weren't able
[18:01] to load or unload passengers um and uh
[18:06] so
[18:07] uh for for kids or for um older family
[18:10] members, we weren't able to actually
[18:12] open the doors to our car.
[18:13] Also um as folks park right behind our
[18:16] driveway, uh we do not have a wide
[18:18] enough driveway to not do probably like
[18:21] I would say maybe like a 10point turn.
[18:24] Um, so if anyone's behind us, we ask
[18:25] that they have to move in order to get
[18:27] our car out of the driveway. And
[18:28] sometimes, um, to get in the driveway is
[18:30] difficult if a car is parked right
[18:32] behind our driveway opening.
[18:34] And the ambassador just lower the
[18:37] drawing a little bit so we can I can see
[18:39] the top portion. The the zooming is
[18:42] good. I just can't see the top.
[18:44] Yeah, just scroll back to the full
[18:45] picture.
[18:46] To the top? Yeah, the scrolling. No, you
[18:48] don't need to. Can
[18:50] we just need to see the and the drive
[18:52] the driveway?
[18:53] The driveway. Yeah. So, can you zoom
[18:55] back in and just show us the house?
[18:59] Yep. Zoom in a little bit more.
[19:03] Yep. Thank you.
[19:08] So, can you explain
[19:10] um what's the width?
[19:13] It's a current hatch.
[19:17] I'm sorry. It's currently 12 feet wide
[19:19] at the opening at the moment and we are
[19:21] proposing to widen it to 14 ft. So it's
[19:24] a twoft difference.
[19:28] Two foot difference. Okay. And the only
[19:31] reason is so you can allow for opening
[19:36] in the driveway
[19:39] uh that is open to the air. Uh, and once
[19:44] you open the door, how do you get to the
[19:47] front steps? Do you have to go around
[19:49] the retaining the retainer wall?
[19:51] Yes. Yes.
[19:54] And also the um the current because we
[19:56] had the driveway and the retaining wall
[19:59] widened after public works departments
[20:01] approved the 14T width, but before uh um
[20:05] the zoning board denied. Um
[20:09] uh we now have a a 4-in trip hazard in
[20:14] on the sidewalk between the sidewalk and
[20:17] our property. Um that's another reason
[20:20] to have the curb cut done.
[20:25] Okay. Any other questions?
[20:26] Yeah. So, um could we just lower it one
[20:29] more time to go underneath so I can see
[20:32] the edge of the sidewalk? Okay. Right
[20:34] there. So, um,
[20:38] why do you need to increase the curb
[20:41] cut? Why can't the existing curb cut
[20:45] exists, but that you you create a
[20:49] greater width and you move the retaining
[20:52] wall
[20:53] so that you allow for a car to come in
[20:56] with an existing curb cut, but you now
[20:58] have enough room to open a door.
[21:01] So we uh we waited for public works
[21:04] department to for final approval of
[21:06] public works to approve the 14 foot and
[21:08] then we had the entire retaining wall
[21:10] moved to the red uh solid line that you
[21:13] see here the proposed um so we already
[21:17] we already moved and rebuilt the entire
[21:20] uh driveway and retaining wall
[21:22] and well which now is now a tripping
[21:25] hazard because there's now a gap and a
[21:26] giant uh the the uh curb is too big to
[21:30] get back over it or back into it over
[21:33] it. Um, and it it's a trip hazard for
[21:36] pedestrians. But additionally, a reason
[21:38] why we also wanted to widen our curb and
[21:40] not just the retaining wall is because
[21:43] when folks are parked right behind our
[21:46] driveway, not parked up on the sidewalk,
[21:49] we can't get out. So, if there's any
[21:51] large work vehicles, the widening of 12
[21:54] the current 12 feet is not enough for us
[21:56] to get out.
[21:58] So I'm a little bit I'm a little bit
[22:00] confused. Do you mean you have two cars
[22:02] behind uh next to each other?
[22:04] No. So
[22:05] because it wouldn't fit correct.
[22:07] Yeah. Um if I can
[22:09] What's the What's So what's the at the
[22:11] at any point? What is the overall width
[22:14] from wall to the new retaining wall
[22:17] surface? What's the largest What's the
[22:19] greatest width?
[22:20] Uh it would be the the mouth of the
[22:23] driveway, which would be 14 feet. That
[22:25] would be the the largest width.
[22:27] as you can see in the diagram.
[22:29] Yeah. And right now you have an existing
[22:31] curb of what's the dimension?
[22:34] Uh I think it's 11' 8 in.
[22:36] Okay. And 14T was approved by public
[22:40] works already.
[22:41] Yes.
[22:42] And so you had to come in front of us
[22:46] because there was a zoning violation and
[22:49] what for what? So, the request was that
[22:52] we need to um apply for a curb cut
[22:55] permit and the sidewalk deposit team
[22:59] requested a uh um
[23:04] this uh basically we were denied based
[23:07] on the fact that this amount this twoft
[23:11] amount could not be used as a driveway.
[23:13] So, we needed a relief from the zoning
[23:15] board.
[23:17] says LA, yeah, last use for sidewalk and
[23:19] will now be occupied for a curb cut to
[23:21] extend entry into driveway for parking,
[23:23] right? Because you're taking away public
[23:24] way.
[23:25] Yep.
[23:26] You're taking [clears throat] away two
[23:26] foot of public way. Okay. Uh thank you.
[23:30] Thank you.
[23:32] Okay. Any other questions from the
[23:34] board?
[23:36] May I have public testimony?
[23:37] Madam Chair and board members, Sigy
[23:39] Johnson with the Office of Neighborhood
[23:40] Services. This petitioner completed the
[23:42] community process and butters meeting
[23:45] was held on August 5th at which no
[23:47] comments were made. The West Roxbury
[23:48] Neighborhood Council supporting this
[23:49] application with that background ons
[23:51] defers judgment to the board. Thank you,
[23:55] Madame [clears throat] Chair. We don't
[23:56] have additional comments.
[23:59] Okay. Uh with that, may I have a motion?
[24:08] Madam Chair, I'll make a motion of
[24:10] approval.
[24:11] Is there a second?
[24:13] I I I I second this because I think it's
[24:17] a very um
[24:20] special condition. Um you know,
[24:22] typically you don't want to um encourage
[24:26] any front yard parking, but that's not
[24:28] the case because it's not wide enough.
[24:30] Um, and it seems like there is kind of a
[24:34] a conflict with public works approval,
[24:38] um, the work being done. And so, I find
[24:41] this to be a very special case. So,
[24:42] Norm, I'm glad that you put that motion
[24:44] forward because I do support it.
[24:46] Okay.
[24:48] Um, okay. So, you seconded it. So, Mr.
[24:50] Stebridge,
[24:52] yes.
[24:53] Miss Ba Brazza,
[24:55] yes.
[24:56] Chair votes yes. The motion carries.
[24:57] Good luck.
[24:58] Thank you.
[24:59] Thank you. Mhm.
[25:03] Next we have case BOA187
[25:08] 99905
[25:11] with the address of 294 Stratford
[25:14] Street. If the applicants andor the
[25:18] representative are present, will they
[25:19] please explain the case to the board?
[25:23] Hello, my name is Derek Rubinoff uh from
[25:26] Derek Rubenoff Architecture, 84 Spring
[25:29] Street in West Roxbury. I'm the
[25:31] architect for the project and uh uh we
[25:33] also have u Matt uh Lepley on on the on
[25:38] the on the Zoom as well. Matt and Kelly
[25:40] are the uh Lepley are the owners of the
[25:42] house. They have a a family with two
[25:45] kids, eight and nine. uh kids are at BPS
[25:47] and uh it's a relatively small single
[25:50] family dwelling in in West Roberry and
[25:53] uh this is a very simple project. They
[25:55] just want to finish the basement. So um
[25:58] you have a view of the back of the house
[25:59] right there. You can see the basement
[26:01] that gray gets lots of natural light
[26:02] through the French doors there which
[26:05] actually will replace with other French
[26:06] doors. But uh um really we're just
[26:09] finishing roughly about 70 700 excuse me
[26:12] square feet in the basement. Um and the
[26:14] only violation that we have is for F
[26:17] in this U West Roxberry neighborhood uh
[26:20] district subdist 1 1 F6000
[26:24] uh is um 0.4 the existing house is 0.46
[26:29] and what's proposed is 0.64.
[26:34] The uh the basement space uh will meet
[26:37] code for both ceiling height and for uh
[26:41] natural light.
[26:47] So basically they just want to put a
[26:48] recck room down there and expand the
[26:49] bathroom.
[26:54] Okay. Any questions from the board?
[26:57] Uh madam chair just um there's current
[27:00] egress um to and from the basement from
[27:04] the outside.
[27:06] Yes. you saw in the uh the photograph
[27:08] that we went by earlier, there's uh
[27:10] those those doors that are at the bottom
[27:11] of the page there. Those uh that's the
[27:13] rear French doors and then there's also
[27:16] a stair that goes up inside to the first
[27:19] floor above.
[27:21] Thank you.
[27:22] You're welcome.
[27:24] Thank you. Any other questions from the
[27:25] board?
[27:27] Hearing none. May I have public
[27:28] testimony?
[27:29] Madam Chair and board members, Sigy
[27:31] Johnson with the Office of Neighborhood
[27:32] Services. This petitioner completed the
[27:34] community process. Our office oversaw
[27:36] distribution of anformational flyer to
[27:38] all occupied parcels in a 300 foot
[27:40] radius which solicited no comments to
[27:42] our office. West Roxbury Neighborhood
[27:44] Council is supporting this application.
[27:46] With that background, ONS deferred
[27:48] judgment to the board. Thank you.
[27:50] Thank you,
[27:51] Madam Chair. We don't have additional
[27:53] comments.
[27:54] With that, may I have a motion?
[27:56] Madam Chair, I'd like to perform a
[27:58] motion of approval.
[27:59] May I have a second?
[28:01] Second.
[28:03] Mr. Stebridge.
[28:04] Yes,
[28:06] better.
[28:07] Yes,
[28:08] chair votes. Yes. The motion carries.
[28:10] Thank you.
[28:13] And next we have, excuse me, next we
[28:17] have case BOA
[28:20] 186 2382
[28:23] with the address of 75 Oakland Street.
[28:27] If the applicant andor their
[28:29] representative are present, would they
[28:31] please explain to the board?
[28:33] Uh yes. Uh uh good evening, Madam Chair
[28:36] and members of the board. My name is
[28:37] Kevin Keeler, chief designer for
[28:39] Bradybuilt Sunrooms, representing
[28:41] Maryanne Urban and James Phillip. Uh
[28:44] they're longtime owners of 75 Oakland
[28:47] Street. Um as [clears throat] as they've
[28:50] been there a long time, they they're
[28:52] getting older and mobility is becoming
[28:54] an increasing challenge. Um, this lot
[28:57] presents a unique hardship because there
[28:59] is more than 25 ft of slope between the
[29:02] front of the lot and the back rear. So,
[29:05] it is very difficult to um uh add
[29:09] anything to the home anywhere except for
[29:11] the front of the house. They would like
[29:13] to create a space that provides the
[29:14] feeling of outdoors while remaining
[29:17] easily accessible and protected from the
[29:19] elements throughout the year. They have
[29:21] an existing front porch right now um but
[29:24] it is uh long and narrow measuring only
[29:27] 7 ft in depth and does not provide
[29:30] functional living space. Um they've
[29:32] hired us to add a sunroom addition to
[29:34] the front of that porch measuring
[29:36] approximately 6 ft by 13t 8 in. Um the
[29:41] addition would be constructed on the
[29:43] front of the porch and the existing wall
[29:46] between the porch and the sun room would
[29:48] be removed making it approximately 7 ft
[29:51] in depth and a usable space. Um due to
[29:54] the significant grade change on the
[29:56] property there is extremely limited
[29:58] access to the rear. So this is the only
[30:00] practical location for this addition. Uh
[30:04] Maryanne and James uh greatly value
[30:08] their home uh their neighborhood and
[30:10] their neighbors and they invested a
[30:11] considerable amount of time and
[30:13] resources in maintaining the property.
[30:15] So relocating to another home uh for e
[30:18] more easily accessibility is not a
[30:20] desired option. This addition would
[30:22] allow them to continue enjoying their
[30:24] property as their mobility needs change.
[30:26] The proposed sun room has been carefully
[30:28] designed to complement the existing
[30:30] architecture of the house. The
[30:32] materials, the scale, and appearance
[30:34] were selected to blend with the
[30:36] character of the home, the surrounding
[30:37] neighborhood while enhancing the overall
[30:39] appearance of the property. The property
[30:42] is located in a 2F5000 zoning district,
[30:46] which requires a front yard setback of
[30:48] 20 ft. The existing house is located
[30:51] approximately 13.2 ft from the front lot
[30:55] line. This addition would extend that to
[30:58] 7 feet 2 in from the front lot line. The
[31:01] required sideyard setback in that zone
[31:03] is 10 ft. The existing house is located
[31:06] approximately 9.4 ft from the sideyard
[31:10] setback. The proposed addition would not
[31:13] extend that any closer to the existing
[31:15] lot line. Uh uh the applicant is seeking
[31:19] relief from article 51 section 9 of the
[31:22] zoning code for approximately 12.8 8 ft
[31:26] of front yard setback and 6 ft relief of
[31:30] sideyard setback. Because of the
[31:32] addition is modest in size,
[31:34] architecturally comparable with the
[31:36] neighborhood and [clears throat] because
[31:39] of the unique topography of the
[31:40] property, we believe the relief can be
[31:42] granted without deterrent to the
[31:44] neighborhood or impair impairment from
[31:46] the intent of the zoning bylaw.
[31:49] The applicants have also received
[31:51] support letters from the existing
[31:53] neighbors at 80 Oakland uh street and
[31:56] also 68 Oakland Street. And so we feel
[32:00] that um for these reasons we
[32:02] respectfully request that the zoning
[32:04] board grant the relief requested so that
[32:06] they can proceed forward with their
[32:08] project.
[32:10] Thank you. Any questions from the board?
[32:13] Hearing none. May I have public
[32:14] testimony?
[32:15] Madame chair and board members. Sigy
[32:17] Johnson with the Office of Neighborhood
[32:18] Services. This petitioner completed the
[32:20] community process. Our office oversaw
[32:22] distribution of anformational flyer to
[32:24] all of Butters in a 300 ft radius which
[32:27] solicited no comments to our office. The
[32:29] applicant provided our office with
[32:30] letters of support from the direct of
[32:32] Butters. The Brighton Alustin
[32:33] Improvement Association is in support of
[32:35] this application. With that background,
[32:37] ONS defers judgment to the board. Thank
[32:39] you.
[32:41] Madame Chair, we don't have additional
[32:43] comments.
[32:45] With that, May I have a motion?
[32:47] Madam Chair, I'd like to put forward a
[32:48] motion of approval.
[32:50] May I have a second?
[32:52] Second.
[32:54] Mr. Stebridge.
[32:56] Yes.
[32:58] Miss Better Braza?
[32:59] Yes.
[33:01] Chair votes yes. The motion carries.
[33:03] Good luck.
[33:04] Thank you for your uh time. I appreciate
[33:06] it.
[33:07] Thank you. Have a good evening,
[33:08] everyone. We'll see you in November.
[33:11] Thank you. Have a good night.
[33:12] Good night, folks. You too.