Bedford Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – July 21, 2026

The Bedford Zoning Board of Adjustment convened on July 21, 2026, to hear three variance applications and conduct officer elections. The board approved a porch variance for the Neal property, discussed a garage variance for the Surette property which was withdrawn for revision, and approved a wetland setback variance for a mobile PET/CT trailer at 318 South River Road. The meeting began with introductions and a thank-you to resigned members.

Public Comments & Testimony

• For the Neal variance (8 Rockbound Road): No public comments were offered. The board noted seven letters of support from neighbors and a letter from the Three Corners HOA stating the porch would not violate HOA bylaws.
• For the Surette variance (60 Old Bedford Road): One letter of support was submitted from abutting neighbor Jeff Force, who expressed no concerns about the proposed garage.
• For the Grant North variance (318 South River Road): No members of the public spoke; the application was presented solely by the applicant team.

Discussion Items

1. Michael and Leah Neal – Porch Variance (8 Rockbound Road)

The applicants requested a variance from Article 5, Section 275-34G(3)(A) to permit a 36‑foot‑wide by 8‑foot‑deep farmer’s porch 23 feet from the front property line (30 feet required). Leah Neal testified that of the 74 homes in Bedford Three Corners, 22 already have similar porches, including one recently built next door. The porch would not enclose living space and would match existing architecture. The board found that the variance satisfied all five criteria: it would not alter the character of the neighborhood, would not threaten public safety, preserved the spirit of the ordinance (preventing overcrowding), did substantial justice by providing outdoor space without harming neighbors, and literal enforcement would create unnecessary hardship due to the house’s angled lot placement. The encroachment is minimal (3–7 feet).

2. Matthew and Melissa Surette – Garage Variance (60 Old Bedford Road)

The applicants sought two variances from Article 3, Section 275-22A to construct a 970‑square‑foot (20×48 feet) attached garage: one for a 7‑foot side setback (15 required) and one for a 5‑foot rear setback (15 required). Matt Surette explained the garage would house two cars in tandem and include a woodworking shop. The lot is only 0.17 acres, smaller than the typical 0.25–0.5‑acre lots in the neighborhood. Board members expressed concerns that the garage (almost 970 sq ft) would be nearly the same footprint as the 988‑sq‑ft house, appearing commercial in scale, and could cause overcrowding. They noted that a 48‑foot length seemed excessive and that the garage could be redesigned to reduce the rear setback encroachment. After deliberation, the board offered the applicant the option to withdraw and return with revised plans. The applicant chose to withdraw the application.

3. Grant North Realty Partners LLC – Wetland Setback Variance (318 South River Road)

The applicant requested a variance from Article 4, Section 275-28A to allow a 550‑sq‑ft mobile PET/CT imaging trailer and a 244‑sq‑ft covered walkway within the wetland buffer. The trailer would sit on an existing paved driveway adjacent to the building, with no grading or disturbance to the wetland itself. The site, formerly a mortgage office, would be converted into an ambulatory surgical center. Jason Hill, engineer, and Dr. James Flynn testified that due to Medicare regulations, imaging patients cannot pass through the surgical center, forcing the trailer to connect directly to the lobby via the shortest path. Alternative locations would require significant structural changes or longer travel distances. The conservation commission had recommended a pollinator garden, native plantings, and erosion controls, which the applicant agreed to implement (except for permeable pavers due to high water table and weight requirements). The board found that the variance met all criteria: it would not alter the commercial character, did not threaten public safety or the wetland (which has limited ecological value), and demonstrated unnecessary hardship as the trailer could not be placed elsewhere without operational or regulatory conflicts. The board voted to approve with conditions including the pollinator garden, erosion controls, and native plantings.

Key Outcomes

• Neal Variance (8 Rockbound Road): Approved 5‑0. Motion by Board Member with findings that all five criteria were satisfied. The variance permits a 36×8‑foot farmer’s porch 23 feet from the front property line.
• Surette Variance (60 Old Bedford Road): Withdrawn by the applicant after board discussion. The applicant will revise the garage plans and reapply.
• Grant North Variance (318 South River Road): Approved 5‑0. The variance permits the PET/CT trailer and walkway within the wetland buffer, subject to conditions: installation of a pollinator garden, erosion controls at the wetland perimeter, and use of native plantings where feasible.
• Election of Officers: Neil was elected Chair (4‑0, with one abstention) and Alex Kellerman was elected Vice Chair (4‑0, with one abstention).
• Minutes Approval: The minutes from April 21, 2026, were tabled to the next meeting due to lack of board members present at that meeting.
• Postponement: The application of Eric Lumbert was continued to August 18, 2026, as the applicant was not present.