HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-04 Zoning Board of Appeals MinutesN 11n/
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Zoning Board of Appeals
Date: 2024-09-04 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose:
Attendees: Members - Present:
RECEIVED
By Town CWkoPet2:2a Pm, Nova, WU
Location: Select Board Meeting Room
Session:
Version: Final
Andrew Grasberger, Cy Caouette, Cynde Hartman, Chris Cridler, Patrick
Houghton, Frank Capone
Members - Not Present:
Tara Gregory
Others Present:
Building Comissioner Bret Bennett, Administrative Specilist Amanda
Beatrice, Ana Bazilo, Paul Catalano, Mary Carideo, Elizabeth Cunniff, Andrew
Cunniff
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Amanda Beatrice
Topics of Discussion:
Mr. Andrew Grasberger called the meeting to order and swore in anyone wishing to speak on any cases
before the Board for this meeting.
2BA Case s24-12- 23 Eaton Street
Mr. Andrew Grasberger opened the public hearing for Case #24-12- 23 Eaton Street by reading the legal
notice into the record and swearing in members of the public wishing to speak.
The homeowner Ms. Elizabeth Cunniff introduced herself and briefly explained she was looking to add
an in-law apartment for her mother.
Mr. Cy Caouette indicated that the project meets the required criteria, and the rest of the board
concurred.
Mr. Andrew Grasberger then opened the public comment period.
Abutter Allison Ockerbloom from 17 Eaton Street expressed support for the project.
Mr. Grasberger also read a support letter from Thomas Fratto of 16 Eaton Street.
Mr. Andrew Grasberger closed the public comment.
Mr. Patrick Houghton made a motion to approve a Special Permit for Case N24-12-23 Eaton Street.
Ms. Cynde Hartman seconded the motion and it was approved 5-0-0.
Vote was 5-0-0 (Grasberger, Caouette, Hartman, Houghton, Cridler)
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ZBA Case 824-13— 215 Washinaton Street
Mr, Andrew Grasberger opened the public hearing for Case 824-13— 215 Washington Street by reading
the legal notice into the record and swearing in members of the public wishing to speak.
The homeowner Ms. Sydney Levan introduced herself, husband Kevin and explained they wanted to add
the porch to their home for safety reasons.
Mr. Frank Capone asked they would be using masonry stairs. Ms. Sydney Levan stated it would not be
the framed stairs.
Mr. Andrew Grasberger explained that Variances are harder than Special Permits to get. He did not
believe the the answer to the first question meets the criteria as it is asking what is unique about their
lot and not why it is like other lots.
Mr. Cy Caouette explained that the Variance Criteria is generated by the state, not the Town. He noted
he had a difficult time seeing this project as a hardship. He was curious how many houses in the area
were non-compliant. Ms. Cynde Hartman also had the same questions and drove by the area and it
appears many of the neighbors have some sort of porch that is close to the sidewalk. She was not
convinced they meet the criteria of all four variance questions.
Ms. Cynde Hartman asked if they could explain their safety concern. Ms. Sydney Levan explained that
they have seen many almost accidents from the neighboring street, and one car had drove into the
neighbor's yard to avoid the crash. The porch would be a barrier.
Mr. Chris Cridler stated what is going to trip them up is how stringent the statute is as they need to
prove all four Variance criteria in order to receive a Variance. If they cannot meet the standards of all
four Variance criteria, the board would need to reject the request.
The Board Members and the applicants went over the available options; they could withdraw their
application, take a vote or continue to another meeting in hopes they could come back and prove they
meet all four of the Variance criteria. If they chose to take a vote, they would not be able to come back
with the same project for two years.
The applicants chose to continue to the November meeting.
Mr. Chris Cridler made a motion to continue Case 824-13-215 Washington Street for a Variance to the
November 6, 2024 meeting. Ms. Cynde Hartman seconded the motion and it was approved S-".
Vote was 5-0-0 (Grasberger, Caouette, Hartman, Haughton, Cridler)
Minutes 8/6/29
The Board Members and staff discussed two conditions voted on for 24-10-943 Main Street: hours of
operation and parking restrictions, which were outside their authority. Unsure how to address the
situation, the Board agreed that their vote would stand despite these changes and proceeded to vote on
it.
Ms. Cynde Hartman made a motion to for the boar to affirm their vote on the allowance 24-10 —943
Main Street without the working hours or parking restrictions. Mr. Patrick Houghton seconded the
motion and it was approved 6-".
Vote was 6-0-0 (Grasberger, Houghton, Caouette, Hartman, Cridler, Capone)
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Mr. Cy Caouette made a motion to continue approve the minutes as amended. Mr. Patrick Houghton
seconded the motion and it was approved 6-0-0.
Vote was 6-0-0 (Grasberger, Caouette, Hartman, Houghton, Cridler, Capone)
Motion to Adjourn
Mr. Chris Cridler made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Patrick Houghton the motion and it was
approved 6-0-0.
Vote was 6-0-0 (Grasberger, Cridler, Houghton, Caouette, Hartman, Capone)
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