1 00:00:43,090 --> 00:00:48,490 Good evening. Welcome to the Shrewsburg Zoning Board of Appeals, regular meeting for Monday, August 24. 2 00:00:49,930 --> 00:01:00,010 First, on the agenda is to review and sign a bill for $185.90 to the community advocate for the August 24th, 2026 legal notices. 3 00:01:00,470 --> 00:01:01,470 It's going to get a motion please. 4 00:01:02,010 --> 00:01:07,930 I move to accept the bill and pay the bill for $185.90 in the ad. 5 00:01:08,390 --> 00:01:09,050 I'm going to get a second. 6 00:01:09,050 --> 00:01:09,350 Thank you. 7 00:01:09,550 --> 00:01:09,750 Thank you. 8 00:01:09,830 --> 00:01:10,630 All in favor? 9 00:01:11,050 --> 00:01:11,330 All right. 10 00:01:11,570 --> 00:01:12,150 So moved. 11 00:01:12,790 --> 00:01:18,650 Next on the agenda is to review and accept meeting minutes from the June 29th, 2026 meeting. 12 00:01:18,790 --> 00:01:19,390 Any discussion? 13 00:01:21,190 --> 00:01:26,990 So just to confirm that the corrections had been made that my participation was in person 14 00:01:26,990 --> 00:01:32,530 and not remote and that we went to executive session after the meeting was called to order. 15 00:01:32,990 --> 00:01:33,230 Correct. 16 00:01:33,390 --> 00:01:37,970 With those corrections, I would make a motion to accept the meeting minutes. 17 00:01:37,970 --> 00:01:41,310 You get second, all in favor? 18 00:01:41,790 --> 00:01:42,050 All right. 19 00:01:42,390 --> 00:01:42,830 So moved. 20 00:01:43,990 --> 00:01:49,570 Next, on the agenda, this is, we've corresponded in some memo from the playing and economic 21 00:01:49,570 --> 00:01:55,670 development department regarding amendments to the Mass General Law 48, and second is a memo 22 00:01:55,670 --> 00:02:00,370 from Town Council regarding revisions to the Mass General Law Section 48 Section 10. 23 00:02:01,390 --> 00:02:07,310 And we are, in attendance this evening is our Town Council Steve Models without further 24 00:02:07,310 --> 00:02:12,730 do if you'd like to take a minute to fill us in on all this new legislation. 25 00:02:13,210 --> 00:02:21,030 You might best, good evening to the board. And I know the Assistant Director also submitted 26 00:02:21,030 --> 00:02:28,690 a memo on the changes to 48. These were surprised to everyone in my office. I haven't found 27 00:02:28,690 --> 00:02:34,050 anyone yet that knew this was coming from a legislature. And a number of us, I'm on the 28 00:02:34,050 --> 00:02:41,110 last municipal lawyers association, listserv seems like most were surprised by these changes. 29 00:02:41,890 --> 00:02:45,790 They were put into the budget bill for the next fiscal year. 30 00:02:46,690 --> 00:02:51,150 And I don't know in legislative process, if that goes through committee or not, someone 31 00:02:51,150 --> 00:02:57,670 in my office speculated that it expedites the revisions and they're also effective immediately. 32 00:02:57,670 --> 00:03:15,650 So they didn't give us time to kind of digest all of these changes and address procedural matters like changing our application form to reflect the new standards or the new criteria for granting a variant. 33 00:03:15,650 --> 00:03:31,090 So all the cities and towns are scrambling now to both understand these revisions and then modify what's necessary and have our local boards of appeals aware of the significant changes. 34 00:03:31,090 --> 00:03:36,470 particularly, I would think what's of interest to this board is section 10 on variances. 35 00:03:37,670 --> 00:03:47,680 The amendments were two sections 5 of 48 relative to electronic mailing, which probably 36 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:56,140 is not much of an interest, but now we can send by email notices section 6 relative to 37 00:03:56,140 --> 00:03:59,660 protections for preexisting uses and structures. 38 00:04:01,180 --> 00:04:09,580 And in the amendment section 47 of the Acts of chapter 137 of the Acts of 2026, 39 00:04:10,220 --> 00:04:13,340 amended section 10 relative to variances. 40 00:04:13,820 --> 00:04:17,720 So that's what I was going to focus on for the board of appeals. 41 00:04:19,300 --> 00:04:25,980 So you'll recall the standard that we've all known since I think 1975, the last time 42 00:04:25,980 --> 00:04:29,080 there was a significant revision to chapter 48, 43 00:04:29,780 --> 00:04:31,940 is it's a strict statutory standard 44 00:04:31,940 --> 00:04:33,780 that the board must make a finding 45 00:04:33,780 --> 00:04:37,000 before you are empowered to issue a variance. 46 00:04:37,620 --> 00:04:39,860 A finding that there's a substantial hardship 47 00:04:39,860 --> 00:04:42,840 owing to the soil condition shape 48 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:44,960 to the poverty of the lot. 49 00:04:45,260 --> 00:04:46,140 The familiar with that, 50 00:04:46,140 --> 00:04:47,860 that's been the standard for so long. 51 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:49,820 And if a variance was issued 52 00:04:49,820 --> 00:04:51,260 that didn't meet that finding, 53 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,220 or merely recited the statutory standards 54 00:04:54,220 --> 00:04:58,380 without an application of the facts, it was vulnerable to a challenge, frankly. 55 00:04:59,380 --> 00:05:03,860 So, variances were pretty hard to get because it wasn't discretionary, like a special 56 00:05:03,860 --> 00:05:04,160 permit. 57 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,640 It was this strict statutory standard that applied. 58 00:05:09,500 --> 00:05:14,580 Well, now, so I'll go through the revisions of ten, just kind of from the top. 59 00:05:14,900 --> 00:05:17,920 Previously read that the Permagranding Authority, the ZBA, 60 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,960 shall have the power after a public hearing. 61 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:27,200 They revised that to the permigrating authority's show after a public hearing, and so you 62 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:33,240 wonder why did they strike, have the power, and put shall, as if almost, you know, in 63 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:38,640 subdivision control law, if a plan complies with the standards, you must approve it. 64 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:43,560 It's the legislature, and these are, there's more unknowns, unfortunately, than known 65 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:48,640 as to what was intended, are they now kind of liberalizing the issuance of variances 66 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,700 and saying, boy, shout out if you make these findings 67 00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:52,880 issue of variance. 68 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,300 That's my first question that is a risen from this. 69 00:05:57,460 --> 00:05:59,360 But the standard, right? 70 00:06:00,420 --> 00:06:02,640 Previously, it was that statutory standard. 71 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:04,940 Now, it's if the boy specifically 72 00:06:04,940 --> 00:06:08,840 finds that a strict enforcement of the bylaw 73 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:11,680 would result in a practical difficulty. 74 00:06:14,380 --> 00:06:17,580 So no one knows what practical difficulty is. 75 00:06:18,860 --> 00:06:24,700 I, you know, my view of what might be a practical difficulty could be different for members 76 00:06:25,220 --> 00:06:27,880 of the board, for the abotter, to the property owner, 77 00:06:30,660 --> 00:06:34,680 but so if a property owner has a practical 78 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:40,660 difficulty due to a strict enforcement of the bylaw, and the permit-graining authority shall 79 00:06:40,660 --> 00:06:47,660 way, the benefits to the appellant or petitioner, and to the public interest, including the 80 00:06:47,660 --> 00:06:53,840 interest in supporting the production of housing against the detriment to the public health, 81 00:06:54,200 --> 00:07:02,020 safety, and welfare of the neighborhood. So clearly there's some way towards housing production 82 00:07:02,020 --> 00:07:10,060 in this new standard in that that tilts the scale perhaps a little bit in favor of the applicant, 83 00:07:10,060 --> 00:07:11,260 according to the legislature, 84 00:07:14,460 --> 00:07:19,100 but then what is welfare of the name hood. These are not 85 00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:24,220 defined terms, but these are factors you must weigh as to whether a project, the proposal, 86 00:07:24,820 --> 00:07:29,400 seeking a variance would be detrimental to those interests of public health safety and 87 00:07:32,540 --> 00:07:44,460 And further it goes on that this Board may also consider, which that itself is in my mind, vague, doesn't say shall consider, but may also consider. 88 00:07:45,180 --> 00:07:56,140 And then it reintroduces what we previously knew, whether the practical difficulty relates to soil conditions, shape, or topography of such land or structures. 89 00:07:57,180 --> 00:08:04,220 That's the first prong, the second is whether strict enforcement would impose a financial hardship. 90 00:08:04,780 --> 00:08:08,200 So now we have financial hardships in play, which we didn't have that before. 91 00:08:08,620 --> 00:08:16,440 We just had substantial hardship on the appellant or petitioner. 92 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:24,840 Whether the benefits sought by the appellant or petitioner can be achieved by some other method feasible for the appellant or petitioner. 93 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:28,780 and whether the practical difficulty was self-created. 94 00:08:30,500 --> 00:08:33,080 So it's kind of wide open, I'm sorry, to say, 95 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,260 and then as it, this was all introduced with may consider. 96 00:08:37,580 --> 00:08:39,660 So how much weight you give to these factors 97 00:08:39,660 --> 00:08:44,040 is at the discretion of the board, I would say. 98 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,220 The legislature also struck, 99 00:08:49,220 --> 00:08:54,100 there was another change was that under the original law, 100 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:58,900 cities and towns or and boards of appeals could not issue use 101 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:03,020 variances unless you're a local bylar explicitly allowed it the 102 00:09:03,020 --> 00:09:07,200 legislature amended that to say now other than residential use 103 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,980 variances those are now available across the Commonwealth or 104 00:09:10,980 --> 00:09:13,900 regardless of your local bylar but in shoesbrew we already allowed 105 00:09:13,900 --> 00:09:19,290 to use variances so that change is of no impact for this board. 106 00:09:20,710 --> 00:09:47,670 The legislature struck the language in the original of 4A10 that said the permit granting authority may impose conditions, safeguards and limitations, both of time and use, including the continued existence of any particular structures, but excluding any conditions, safeguards or limitations based upon the continued ownership of the land or structures. 107 00:09:48,750 --> 00:09:54,430 So they struck this paragraph and does that mean that this board can no longer impose 108 00:09:54,430 --> 00:10:01,210 conditions or safeguards because they struck the language, so oftentimes in interpreting 109 00:10:02,050 --> 00:10:08,430 legislative action, there's deemed to be some intent by what the legislature did in 110 00:10:08,430 --> 00:10:11,470 removing it, that they must have met something. 111 00:10:11,550 --> 00:10:14,810 So did they mean to say that boards can no longer condition 112 00:10:15,410 --> 00:10:22,770 variances, this is an open question or did I just don't know why they slightly struck it. 113 00:10:22,970 --> 00:10:25,010 So, what casalize is going to start to fill in. 114 00:10:25,150 --> 00:10:32,430 I expect some of the questions that have a risen and not just for shoes, but for all the 115 00:10:32,430 --> 00:10:33,850 shoes and towns. 116 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:43,020 It also extended the timeline by which someone who receives a variance may exercise their 117 00:10:44,540 --> 00:10:45,940 to two years. 118 00:10:47,740 --> 00:10:54,300 So that started to say that I don't have a lot of answers as much as it raises uncertainty. 119 00:10:56,420 --> 00:11:03,620 But this is the language of legislature enacted, and the governor signed, and it was effective as of July 1. 120 00:11:06,750 --> 00:11:15,870 Do you know if there will be any regulations issued or answers to FAQs by any of that? 121 00:11:16,290 --> 00:11:28,010 So I don't know, I did see there was something issued by housing and livable communities saying that they were going to attempt to issue some guidance. 122 00:11:30,530 --> 00:11:37,650 It's not in the legislation, so I don't know when that will be forthcoming, and I would expect 123 00:11:37,650 --> 00:11:40,950 they're going to wrestle with this language as much as everybody else. 124 00:11:41,690 --> 00:11:48,030 But I did see in one of the correspondence, someone forwarded that from housing and 125 00:11:48,030 --> 00:11:51,170 of communities on the Municipal Lawyers Association, 126 00:11:51,190 --> 00:11:52,150 listserv. 127 00:11:59,490 --> 00:12:01,830 In the questions, I'm not surprised. 128 00:12:03,430 --> 00:12:06,170 I feel like we're, like, Neil Armstrong landing on the moon. 129 00:12:06,530 --> 00:12:09,090 Like, it's, it happens all that we've known, 130 00:12:09,250 --> 00:12:14,430 all the case law that we've relied on, to say that you may 131 00:12:14,430 --> 00:12:16,610 consider for criteria. 132 00:12:16,990 --> 00:12:18,950 I don't know what that means, may consider. 133 00:12:19,270 --> 00:12:23,090 May, could you elect not consider the four, 134 00:12:23,090 --> 00:12:26,310 that before, and then what's a practical difficulty 135 00:12:26,310 --> 00:12:31,090 as the main consideration to be weighed against welfare 136 00:12:31,090 --> 00:12:31,910 of the neighborhood? 137 00:12:33,130 --> 00:12:33,590 Right. 138 00:12:33,750 --> 00:12:34,490 What does that mean? 139 00:12:36,950 --> 00:12:40,450 Before it was as difficult as it was, 140 00:12:40,730 --> 00:12:42,810 if there was certainty as to the standards, 141 00:12:43,870 --> 00:12:45,190 here there's a lot of discretion. 142 00:12:46,090 --> 00:12:49,490 And I think we'll see more case 143 00:12:49,490 --> 00:12:57,310 of butters challenging the issuance of variances and probably case upholding the decisions 144 00:12:57,310 --> 00:13:04,930 because of the broad authority now that you have in making findings. You not pin to a strict 145 00:13:04,930 --> 00:13:10,270 statutory standard. Yeah, I mean it opens the doors to a lot of interpretation. Yeah. 146 00:13:12,030 --> 00:13:20,950 One more question. Do you think it's arguable that on the one side, the way it's written, 147 00:13:20,950 --> 00:13:31,570 on the one side, we are to evaluate the benefits for the appellant or petitioner and supporting 148 00:13:31,570 --> 00:13:36,090 the production of housing against the detriment to public health safety and welfare of the 149 00:13:36,090 --> 00:13:36,330 neighborhood. 150 00:13:36,670 --> 00:13:40,910 Is that the equation that we're, yes, we call the benefit of that? 151 00:13:41,250 --> 00:13:48,390 So, it's just the way the text is, so we are to weigh the benefits to the appellant or petitioner 152 00:13:48,390 --> 00:13:55,390 and to the public interest, so the benefit to the petitioner and the public interest against housing production. 153 00:13:56,250 --> 00:13:57,550 Well, sorry. I've stirred. 154 00:13:57,870 --> 00:13:58,190 It's stopped. 155 00:13:59,370 --> 00:14:08,710 Including the supporting a production housing against the detriment to the public health safety and welfare of the need of it. 156 00:14:08,990 --> 00:14:10,090 And then we may accept it. 157 00:14:10,510 --> 00:14:11,610 So that's the equation. 158 00:14:12,310 --> 00:14:12,350 Okay. 159 00:14:12,730 --> 00:14:13,090 Yeah. 160 00:14:13,090 --> 00:14:17,870 Yeah, with those terms on defined practical difficulty. 161 00:14:18,150 --> 00:14:23,150 We were wondering in my office as to whether the legislature looked at some other state 162 00:14:23,150 --> 00:14:28,910 as to their standards and that other states had some definition of practical difficulty, 163 00:14:29,150 --> 00:14:33,150 but we haven't found it yet if they turned to Maine on New Hampshire someplace. 164 00:14:34,270 --> 00:14:35,210 We haven't found it yet. 165 00:14:35,210 --> 00:14:37,310 Don't we know what Maine means? 166 00:14:37,390 --> 00:14:39,970 Just entirely permission is what it is, correct? 167 00:14:40,470 --> 00:14:40,550 Yes. 168 00:14:40,550 --> 00:14:45,570 I mean there must be definitions of what may means and legal sense here. 169 00:14:45,850 --> 00:14:48,790 So we can choose to or choose not to at our own discretion. 170 00:14:48,950 --> 00:14:49,390 Correct. 171 00:14:49,650 --> 00:14:51,690 That's how I read it. May is permissive. 172 00:14:51,770 --> 00:14:51,970 Okay. 173 00:14:54,180 --> 00:14:56,680 We'll see if a court issue is something differently. 174 00:14:58,460 --> 00:14:58,540 That's how it is. 175 00:14:58,540 --> 00:14:58,880 It's how it is. 176 00:15:04,270 --> 00:15:11,790 So, in my memo, I just did the forwarded red line of the changes the 48 and just so you could see. 177 00:15:12,150 --> 00:15:18,070 I found it odd that they retained the original standards as may also consider. 178 00:15:18,850 --> 00:15:29,090 Yep. Why do you, I don't know why they would do that when they upended the whole apple carnival with the new standard of practical difficulty weighed against public health and safety. 179 00:15:29,090 --> 00:15:34,070 Don't ask, don't ask, I understand what's coming out of the legislature. 180 00:15:36,110 --> 00:15:37,170 Mayor, or the governor? 181 00:15:38,030 --> 00:15:39,190 Well, I think it opens up. 182 00:15:39,450 --> 00:15:39,950 We have a lot of two. 183 00:15:40,370 --> 00:15:41,610 We have, you know. 184 00:15:42,090 --> 00:15:42,270 Yeah. 185 00:15:42,710 --> 00:15:44,050 We don't have strict rules anymore. 186 00:15:45,710 --> 00:15:46,750 It's interpretive. 187 00:15:47,170 --> 00:15:48,750 Yeah, I mean, there's language here. 188 00:15:48,910 --> 00:15:52,510 You can work with on finding a decision one way or another. 189 00:15:55,050 --> 00:15:57,470 And I think, I guess that's going to be the challenge, right? 190 00:15:57,470 --> 00:16:04,750 as a board, we were so wide open, which other criteria, as Tony Raphola was saying, 191 00:16:04,750 --> 00:16:11,430 you know, favoring the production of housing, is that going to outweigh the welfare 192 00:16:11,430 --> 00:16:15,650 of the neighborhood, whatever that means, that a room full of a bottles is opposed to it, 193 00:16:15,650 --> 00:16:17,630 is that the welfare of the neighborhood I don't know. 194 00:16:18,390 --> 00:16:23,550 I would suggest we make a lot of findings and have them in the record. 195 00:16:25,030 --> 00:16:28,050 I believe I find you, everybody. 196 00:16:29,550 --> 00:16:30,070 Yeah. 197 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:41,260 Okay, well, if I, if I find, if I we see any guidance, we'll certainly forward it. 198 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,960 Yeah, we were waiting with faded breath for this, but, you know, we're kind of home. 199 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:51,540 Not coming, so we're just going to have to go out there and, and so our own path, I guess. 200 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:53,640 All right. 201 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:55,440 for the certified mail to show us. 202 00:16:55,460 --> 00:16:55,980 Exactly. 203 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:57,040 That's exactly. 204 00:16:57,460 --> 00:16:58,320 Got news to that. 205 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,460 So, any other thoughts comments before we move on? 206 00:17:03,700 --> 00:17:06,100 I'd thanks Steve for helping us with the research. 207 00:17:06,420 --> 00:17:08,100 Wish we could have had a little more earlier, 208 00:17:08,300 --> 00:17:09,720 so we could have digested. 209 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:11,940 Maybe a little bit more rather than tonight. 210 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,100 But yeah, we were grateful for it. 211 00:17:16,420 --> 00:17:18,580 Thanks for the opportunity and good luck. 212 00:17:20,860 --> 00:17:21,820 Well, thank you. 213 00:17:21,820 --> 00:17:25,760 I'm not sure that thank you, we're through you out of the room, but that's the side of the point. 214 00:17:26,140 --> 00:17:27,760 You're the messenger, you're just the messenger. 215 00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:31,980 Well, we appreciate you being here and giving us that guidance. 216 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:33,080 So thank you. 217 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:33,920 Thank you. 218 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:34,680 All right. 219 00:17:35,380 --> 00:17:36,280 That further ado. 220 00:17:36,860 --> 00:17:40,860 We're going to continue on with the rest of our public hearings. 221 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:42,900 First public hearing. 222 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,860 This is a request to withdraw without prejudice. 223 00:17:46,620 --> 00:17:54,200 the hearing for eight ninety four Boston turnpike. You want to pick that up? 224 00:17:54,660 --> 00:17:57,440 What do you mean? It's over personal control. 225 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,020 Yeah, so it's just a request for withdrawal, so we have no need to. 226 00:18:01,020 --> 00:18:01,220 No need to. 227 00:18:01,220 --> 00:18:02,600 You don't need to state anything more. 228 00:18:03,020 --> 00:18:10,860 All right, so can I get a motion for the request to withdraw without prejudice for eight ninety four Boston turnpike. 229 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,000 Commercial business are Jay Foley LLC. 230 00:18:14,740 --> 00:18:18,080 I moved to allow the petitioner to withdraw without prejudice. 231 00:18:18,620 --> 00:18:19,200 I'm sorry. 232 00:18:19,980 --> 00:18:20,960 All in favor? 233 00:18:21,060 --> 00:18:21,460 Hi. 234 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:22,540 So moved. 235 00:18:23,620 --> 00:18:23,700 Okay. 236 00:18:23,940 --> 00:18:27,880 Before we proceed forward, I should mention we are a four member board tonight. 237 00:18:28,700 --> 00:18:33,060 We used typically a five members, but one of our members is not feeling well, so we're down to four members. 238 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:38,920 So if you are to come in front of us, depending on whether you're coming for a special permit or a variance, 239 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:48,740 that will change how many yes or no votes you could, you would need in order to get your appeal approved or denied. 240 00:18:49,720 --> 00:19:01,260 So when we see through, we'll bring it up again and it'll be up to the appellant whether they want to continue their hearing to the next meeting or proceed forward with the form member board. 241 00:19:01,260 --> 00:19:10,560 So, without further ado, next up is to hear the appeal of 22 Ridge Road Robert Cotes for variants. 242 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,820 Yes, this is to hear the appeal of Robert Cotes for 22 Ridge Road. 243 00:19:14,020 --> 00:19:17,020 Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, the 1545 for variants. 244 00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:23,860 Shrewsbury, zoning bylaws, sections 7, table 4 to allow for a swimming pool for feet. 245 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:29,220 When the principal dwelling where 10 feet is required on a property located at 22 Ridge Road 246 00:19:29,220 --> 00:19:31,700 in the rural B zoning district. 247 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:40,400 So the premise is described on the Shrewsbury sister's text plate 0-8-0-8-0-5-8-0-2-7. 248 00:19:41,140 --> 00:19:41,760 Mr. Codes? 249 00:19:43,460 --> 00:19:43,760 Good evening. 250 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,140 Who would, even if you could state your name for the record? 251 00:19:46,340 --> 00:19:46,860 Yeah, my I said. 252 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:48,720 Yes, please. Absolutely. 253 00:19:48,980 --> 00:19:50,440 Robert Codes, 22 Ridge Road. 254 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:52,400 Who would, evening? Welcome. 255 00:19:52,860 --> 00:19:53,360 How are you? 256 00:19:53,540 --> 00:19:56,380 Good. You could let us know what you're looking to do. 257 00:19:56,380 --> 00:20:03,820 Yeah, so we bought the property about six months ago for Ridge Road and we wanted to put it in above ground pool in the backyard. 258 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:12,820 Unfortunately, what we found after serving the site is to biography concerns on if I'm going to do this from facing the back of the house. 259 00:20:12,900 --> 00:20:16,140 The left side's got the biography concerns where I can't put it above ground pool. 260 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:23,160 In the middle of the yard is the septic field in Leachfield that I can't do. 261 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,100 And then on the right, where I'm proposing to put the pole, 262 00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:30,140 is, unfortunately, four feet from the deck that's attached 263 00:20:30,140 --> 00:20:30,780 to the house. 264 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:35,160 That deck is an existing structure attached to the house. 265 00:20:35,660 --> 00:20:39,460 The backyard is fully fenced, so I can't move the pool further. 266 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,360 It creates a huge financial hardship that 267 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:45,260 have to go in, cut trees, expand the fence, move the wood. 268 00:20:45,980 --> 00:20:48,360 I've got plenty of setback from the town permits 269 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:50,920 from the back and side property lines. 270 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:56,840 So I'm trying to shoe horn this pull in and we are going to do a 24-foot above ground pull. 271 00:20:56,860 --> 00:21:01,840 We were down-sized it to a 20-foot above ground pull to fit into this smaller space. 272 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:09,140 It gives me adequate space around the deck to walk around the deck and service the pull of the pump and equipment. 273 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:16,960 In addition, it gives me adequate space between the pull and the fence to bring a machine back if we had to do something with the septic or the concern. 274 00:21:17,940 --> 00:21:20,160 So we requested a building permit. 275 00:21:20,700 --> 00:21:25,020 It came to say that we were not in compliance with the ten foot rule from the structure. 276 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,120 12 feet from the existing house before feet from the deck. 277 00:21:30,940 --> 00:21:37,420 So requesting a variance to that four foot rule so that we can install the above crown pull. 278 00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:42,920 The pull is 54 inch wall so it does not meet all the pull requirements by the state code. 279 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:49,420 The latter axis is away from the deck, so there's no transition transition from the deck to the pool or any concern there. 280 00:21:50,660 --> 00:21:59,860 With respect to the neighborhood, several pools in the neighborhood, above ground pools in the neighborhood, frankly, many of them are attached to the existing decks of people's houses, ours won't be. 281 00:22:01,820 --> 00:22:12,200 And you know, as the Ridge Road note, if you're familiar with it, you know, just a nice suburban neighborhood, so won't be any visibility concerns, public safety concerns. 282 00:22:12,620 --> 00:22:14,920 over the other things, financial, I just read them. 283 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:20,300 All those concerns and the health and welfare in the neighborhood won't be affected by this. 284 00:22:20,500 --> 00:22:25,500 Talk to my neighbors, nobody has a concern to both of my neighbors have pools, so that's what 285 00:22:25,500 --> 00:22:29,280 I'm requesting from the board tonight is a variance from the four foot rule, are from 286 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:29,920 the ten foot rule. 287 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:37,640 The poll equipment will still meet color. It will be more than three feet from the poll. And the rest of the poll access codes are all in place. 288 00:22:38,380 --> 00:22:41,000 Great. Thank you. Thank you for explaining that. 289 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,020 All right, Louise, anything else we should take into consideration? 290 00:22:44,380 --> 00:22:52,320 The only thing I would note, which is in the cover letter or the cover sheet, provided is that there are handful of waivers requested. 291 00:22:52,320 --> 00:23:01,560 center, you know, it's drawn on the plot plan, but no issues with that or otherwise. 292 00:23:07,340 --> 00:23:14,680 Okay, okay, this is to yourself, friend, okay, all right. Before we open up any comments, questions? 293 00:23:15,340 --> 00:23:20,640 Well, yeah, I'd have, I'm trying to understand this. So the pool does not exist yet. That's correct. 294 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,080 The deck exists, the deck exists. 295 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:30,680 You will be how far from the house to the pool from the exact, from the corner of the house, 296 00:23:30,820 --> 00:23:32,520 the existing house structures 12 feet. 297 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:33,380 12 feet. 298 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:33,860 That's correct. 299 00:23:34,180 --> 00:23:36,620 And that satisfies building factor. 300 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:37,580 It does not. 301 00:23:38,820 --> 00:23:41,580 The building inspector told me that, 302 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,360 because the deck in the existing feature to the house, 303 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:46,400 that it's considered part of the structure. 304 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:48,660 I said, well, the house is the existing structure 305 00:23:48,660 --> 00:23:51,740 and my mind was in a pertinent to the existing structure. 306 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:53,540 She wants you 10 feet from the deck. 307 00:23:53,540 --> 00:23:55,140 She wants you to want it in much 10 feet from the deck. 308 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:56,520 I can't get 10 feet from the deck. 309 00:23:57,380 --> 00:23:58,440 Doesn't make any sense. 310 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:05,760 The sloped area over there that's falling away from your house. 311 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:06,920 That is correct. 312 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,720 You've got a septic leaf field, you've got fence. 313 00:24:12,980 --> 00:24:13,980 How high is your fence? 314 00:24:14,060 --> 00:24:15,100 I think I drove by. 315 00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:16,200 A big white fence? 316 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:16,540 Yes. 317 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:16,920 That's correct. 318 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:22,740 We did a six foot around and then in the back is a four foot chain look fence behind 319 00:24:22,740 --> 00:24:27,300 that as you know by in the house is the transmission corridor for the power lights. 320 00:24:27,820 --> 00:24:31,280 I don't want anybody to get up on top of the six foot fence and I work for the electric 321 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,240 company again to close the power lights and so. 322 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:35,540 I don't have any more questions. 323 00:24:36,300 --> 00:24:36,440 Okay. 324 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:37,060 Dave. 325 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:44,160 The deck has, did you say it has a normal railing around the? 326 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:44,360 Yep. 327 00:24:44,360 --> 00:24:46,900 I'm just in code complying, railing around it. 328 00:24:48,820 --> 00:24:54,020 Yeah, I mean, I think you've demonstrated that you're very 329 00:24:54,020 --> 00:24:55,740 apt to work with the shoe here. 330 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:59,140 You said that you went from one size pool to a smaller pool. 331 00:24:59,300 --> 00:25:02,340 You really worked to keep this thing out of the property 332 00:25:02,340 --> 00:25:03,560 lines that back areas. 333 00:25:05,420 --> 00:25:07,080 And I think you said it right. 334 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:08,800 You shoe-wanted in there is best you can. 335 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:11,560 So I think it's in is what it is. 336 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:12,820 OK, thanks, man. 337 00:25:13,580 --> 00:25:21,520 I think the application meets the requirements for us to find that we should issue a variance. 338 00:25:22,380 --> 00:25:28,720 There's soil conditions, there's topography, there's septic, there's also, there's an existing fence. 339 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:30,600 So I don't have any problem with it. 340 00:25:30,700 --> 00:25:31,600 Thank you. 341 00:25:31,620 --> 00:25:31,940 Okay. 342 00:25:32,180 --> 00:25:32,760 Nor do I. 343 00:25:33,300 --> 00:25:33,560 All right. 344 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:34,400 This is a public hearing. 345 00:25:34,540 --> 00:25:36,740 Is there any of them that wishes to be heard on this matter? 346 00:25:39,470 --> 00:25:39,490 Okay. 347 00:25:39,490 --> 00:25:44,270 I'm going to get a mask or a question, I'm going to close the public hearing and I'll ask him. 348 00:25:44,510 --> 00:25:44,530 Sure. 349 00:25:44,670 --> 00:25:46,430 Can I get a motion to close the public hearing, please? 350 00:25:46,990 --> 00:25:48,290 I moved the close public hearing. 351 00:25:48,350 --> 00:25:49,010 Can I get a second? 352 00:25:49,410 --> 00:25:49,850 Second? 353 00:25:50,170 --> 00:25:50,610 Fall in favor? 354 00:25:50,830 --> 00:25:51,250 Aye. 355 00:25:51,630 --> 00:25:52,290 So moved. 356 00:25:52,830 --> 00:25:56,110 You said there's no connection between the deck and the pool. 357 00:25:56,250 --> 00:26:00,470 You've got to go down off the deck and climb up in the pool on a separate device. 358 00:26:00,550 --> 00:26:01,070 That's correct. 359 00:26:03,230 --> 00:26:03,770 I'm done. 360 00:26:04,130 --> 00:26:04,350 Okay. 361 00:26:04,990 --> 00:26:06,110 Can I get a motion, please? 362 00:26:06,710 --> 00:26:08,550 I think we need to see if there's any public input. 363 00:26:08,550 --> 00:26:13,170 We're going to close, call them close, I'm sorry, that's okay, that's all right. 364 00:26:13,650 --> 00:26:19,710 I moved to, I moved the board to approve the applicant's request for a variance from 365 00:26:19,710 --> 00:26:25,430 section 7, table 4 of this shoes were zoning a lot to allow for a swimming pool of four 366 00:26:25,430 --> 00:26:30,770 feet from the principal dwelling where 10 feet is required at 22 redrode within the rural 367 00:26:30,770 --> 00:26:31,870 B zoning district. 368 00:26:32,510 --> 00:26:33,910 Can I get a second? 369 00:26:34,270 --> 00:26:35,910 It's like a width waivers. 370 00:26:36,450 --> 00:26:37,730 Oh yeah, we have waivers in. 371 00:26:37,730 --> 00:26:38,650 I'm sorry. 372 00:26:39,550 --> 00:26:40,590 Sorry about that. 373 00:26:40,590 --> 00:26:45,930 I moved the board well, so that motion is pending, so. 374 00:26:47,890 --> 00:26:53,750 Move the board to approve the applicants for quest for waivers as requested from article 375 00:26:53,750 --> 00:26:58,610 three section three plans of land from the zoning board rules and regulations for property located 376 00:26:58,610 --> 00:27:01,390 22 red road within the rural be zoning district. 377 00:27:02,270 --> 00:27:03,990 I second that. 378 00:27:04,330 --> 00:27:05,150 All in favor. 379 00:27:05,150 --> 00:27:10,730 All right, some of you need relief now. 380 00:27:10,730 --> 00:27:11,110 Yes. 381 00:27:11,570 --> 00:27:12,330 Do you want to do the relief? 382 00:27:12,910 --> 00:27:14,390 Do I have anyone to do the relief? 383 00:27:14,850 --> 00:27:15,550 No, you can do it. 384 00:27:17,110 --> 00:27:22,910 I moved the board to approve the applicants request for a variance from Section 7. 385 00:27:23,290 --> 00:27:30,850 Table 4 of the screws buried zoning by law to allow for a swimming pool for feet from the. 386 00:27:30,970 --> 00:27:34,110 I strike the word principle dwelling and I say, 387 00:27:34,110 --> 00:27:42,170 deck because he is over 10 feet from the principal dwelling. So I'm modifying this. 388 00:27:42,210 --> 00:27:49,850 The building commissioner sees that the existing deck attached to the dwelling is a principle 389 00:27:50,830 --> 00:27:57,670 dwelling, which is why we are here. All right, well then, I'll leave the board it as it is. 390 00:27:58,710 --> 00:28:03,450 Four foot from the principal dwelling, where 10 feet is required at 22 rows, within the wall 391 00:28:03,450 --> 00:28:10,910 be zoning district. Thank you for the second. Second. All in favor? I'm so moved. Thank you. 392 00:28:10,970 --> 00:28:11,710 Thank you. 393 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:22,600 Excuse me. Here's the appeal of Mark Paris, 19 Ashwood Circle, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, 394 00:28:22,740 --> 00:28:31,180 0.5, 4.5, for a variance of the Shrewsbury zoning bylaws, section 7B, subpart 10, to create 395 00:28:31,180 --> 00:28:39,520 lot with a lot of shape factor of 0.41 where a minimum of 0.45 is required on property located 396 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:45,240 at 13 John Street and the resident's B2 zoning district. So, the premise is described on the 397 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:51,320 truth-free assessor's tax plate, 45 plot 019001. 398 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:57,340 And a reminder, Mr. Paris, that we have a four-member board, so you'd have to get a unanimous 399 00:28:57,340 --> 00:28:59,940 vote in order for your appeal to be granted. 400 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:09,400 So it's up to you whether you want to continue the hearing till next meeting with a five-member board if we have a five-member board or continue tonight with four-member board. 401 00:29:09,820 --> 00:29:10,520 May I continue? 402 00:29:11,900 --> 00:29:12,920 If that's what you want to do? 403 00:29:13,180 --> 00:29:13,960 Yeah, certainly do that. 404 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,340 Do you know when the next meeting would be? 405 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:16,980 Yes. 406 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:18,460 Last Monday of the month. 407 00:29:19,020 --> 00:29:19,840 Well, hang on. 408 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:20,700 Oh, I guess. 409 00:29:21,660 --> 00:29:22,300 It will be. 410 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:22,520 It will be. 411 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:24,480 So that's how I can look at that. 412 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:24,700 I just... 413 00:29:24,700 --> 00:29:25,800 At the 10th or 20th. 414 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:27,520 Oh, it's pushing to the 28th. 415 00:29:30,340 --> 00:29:31,640 No, I will continue. 416 00:29:32,300 --> 00:29:32,860 You want to continue? 417 00:29:33,260 --> 00:29:33,740 Yes, please. 418 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:34,080 Okay. 419 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:35,340 All right. 420 00:29:36,660 --> 00:29:40,160 So can I get a motion to continue the hearing for 13 John Street, please? 421 00:29:40,460 --> 00:29:42,560 Is that what you want or do you want to do it tonight? 422 00:29:42,980 --> 00:29:44,440 No, may I continue it? 423 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:45,300 Okay, I guess. 424 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:46,580 Continue tonight. 425 00:29:47,020 --> 00:29:47,500 Continue the meeting. 426 00:29:47,620 --> 00:29:48,880 I want to continue. 427 00:29:48,880 --> 00:29:49,300 No, no. 428 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:50,580 Continue to continue the next meeting. 429 00:29:52,020 --> 00:29:55,840 I moved to continue the appeal of Mark Paris, 430 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:59,840 regarding 13 John Street for a variance from section. 431 00:30:02,570 --> 00:30:07,670 7b, 2 September 28th, 2026, 6 p.m. 432 00:30:07,810 --> 00:30:08,510 I get a second. 433 00:30:09,070 --> 00:30:09,270 Second. 434 00:30:09,790 --> 00:30:10,190 All in favour? 435 00:30:10,670 --> 00:30:10,830 Aye. 436 00:30:11,270 --> 00:30:11,690 I'm so moved. 437 00:30:11,850 --> 00:30:13,110 So that's automatic, right? 438 00:30:13,150 --> 00:30:14,950 I do I have to refile or I am on. 439 00:30:14,950 --> 00:30:15,130 Nope. 440 00:30:15,250 --> 00:30:16,730 You'll continue right on. 441 00:30:17,050 --> 00:30:19,110 Yep, we'll put you at the front of the hearing as well. 442 00:30:19,470 --> 00:30:19,910 Oh, thank you. 443 00:30:19,930 --> 00:30:20,430 You're welcome. 444 00:30:20,690 --> 00:30:21,730 Just bring doughnuts. 445 00:30:22,290 --> 00:30:22,710 I'm sorry. 446 00:30:23,010 --> 00:30:23,670 Bring doughnuts. 447 00:30:24,150 --> 00:30:25,710 Yeah. That's a joke. 448 00:30:26,550 --> 00:30:26,930 Yeah. 449 00:30:26,930 --> 00:30:47,830 All right, thank you, all right, next on the agenda, this is a continuation request to the September 28th meeting for 9.57 Boston Turnpike, so can I get a motion to continue that hearing please? 450 00:30:47,830 --> 00:30:50,910 I move the continued to continue 451 00:30:51,610 --> 00:30:54,910 adhering for 9.57 Boston turnpike 452 00:30:54,910 --> 00:30:57,830 from a cardee engineering for two special permits 453 00:30:57,830 --> 00:31:01,770 to September 28th, 2026.66. 454 00:31:02,390 --> 00:31:03,490 Can I get a second? 455 00:31:04,790 --> 00:31:05,390 All in favor? 456 00:31:05,970 --> 00:31:07,230 I so moved. 457 00:31:07,610 --> 00:31:09,150 Okay, and the last on the list is 458 00:31:09,150 --> 00:31:11,010 this is a request to withdraw the hearing 459 00:31:12,370 --> 00:31:15,070 for a 47-lear street 460 00:31:15,070 --> 00:31:18,790 We'll be Daniel Ford, can I get a motion please? 461 00:31:19,530 --> 00:31:31,190 I move to approve the request to withdraw for 47-year street money for Daniel Ford for variants from section 7 C table 4. 462 00:31:31,310 --> 00:31:31,970 I go second. 463 00:31:32,270 --> 00:31:32,990 Okay. 464 00:31:32,990 --> 00:31:33,670 Question? 465 00:31:34,390 --> 00:31:37,110 Is this withdrawn without prejudice, right? 466 00:31:39,170 --> 00:31:39,390 Okay. 467 00:31:40,210 --> 00:31:40,870 I'm good. 468 00:31:41,510 --> 00:31:42,050 Can I go to second? 469 00:31:42,230 --> 00:31:42,670 I can. 470 00:31:42,910 --> 00:31:43,410 All in favor? 471 00:31:43,410 --> 00:31:47,690 I really, there's two variants, let me make the motion, sorry. 472 00:31:48,010 --> 00:31:56,750 I also move to approve the request to withdraw 47 Leer Street for Daniel Ford for the 473 00:31:56,750 --> 00:32:04,130 variants from Section 7D Table 2 and Special Permit and a Special Permit, too, sorry. 474 00:32:04,670 --> 00:32:07,250 A Special Permit from Section 4, C. 475 00:32:08,570 --> 00:32:09,290 Can I get a second? 476 00:32:09,290 --> 00:32:17,070 So I get all in favor, all right, so moved, all right, that looks like that is basically 477 00:32:17,070 --> 00:32:23,030 it for the evening, so I can I get a motion to adjourn and move to adjourn. 478 00:32:23,250 --> 00:32:23,990 Any other second? 479 00:32:24,010 --> 00:32:24,250 Good. 480 00:32:24,630 --> 00:32:25,570 All in favor? 481 00:32:26,050 --> 00:32:26,210 Aye. 482 00:32:26,830 --> 00:32:27,270 Moved. 483 00:32:28,210 --> 00:32:29,090 Oh, that's a world record.