Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – November 12, 2025
Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting – November 12, 2025
The Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) convened on November 12, 2025, to hear four variance and special exception applications. The board, consisting of Chair Jay Mankara, Vice Chair Josh Neely, members JP Boucher and Robert Shaw, and alternate Joseph Potri (voting), addressed requests for mixed-use development, staircase encroachments, farmer's porch structures, shed locations, and driveway width expansions. All four applications proceeded to a deliberation phase with public input receiving minimal opposition, resulting in unanimous approvals for all requests.
Consent Calendar
- No items were placed on the consent calendar; all business was conducted through the standard hearing process.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Elizabeth Hardigan (Attorney): Expressed support for the variance and special exception for 61 Amherst Street on behalf of Yu Fen Soon, LLC. She argued that the property's existing dental use justifies the mixed-use application and that the requested staircase encroachment is necessary for site design constraints.
- Board Member Robert Shaw (Question): Asked whether the lot dimensions would allow for a two-family building without variances; the applicant's representative indicated it would be "very close" but difficult without variance.
- Balaji Aingar (Applicant, 3 Cherrywood Drive): Expressed support for his own application, stating an eight-foot deep farmer's porch is preferred to accommodate entertaining, despite a six-foot depth being suggested by the board.
- Balaji & Vidya Aingar (Testimony): Testified in favor of the farmer's porch, noting plans to enjoy outdoor living during warmer months.
- Andrew Piper (Applicant, 4 Doncaster Drive): Expressed support for a shed variance, citing topographical challenges (flooding bowl) and the need to sequester storage away from the street.
- Jacob & Deepa Raju (Applicants, 27 Clearview Drive): Expressed support for a driveway width variance, citing severe snow removal issues and basement flooding due to slope; they also brought up a fraud concern regarding scam emails asking for fees.
- ZBA Chair Jay Mankara: Clarified that the emails requesting excessive fees are scams, affirmed the actual fees are $370, and noted the Police Department is investigating.
Discussion Items
- 61 Amherst Street (Sun/Yu Fen Soon, LLC): Board members discussed the historical context of the 1970 variance for the dental office and the necessity of the side-yard staircase due to the building's layout. Board member Neely noted the building's unique status as a long-standing single-story structure in a multi-family area.
- 3 Cherrywood Drive (Aingar): Board member Shaw questioned why an eight-foot depth was requested over a six-foot depth. The applicant explained the desire for a larger space. Board member Neely initially leaned toward six feet but was convinced by the applicant's explanation of the "bump out" geometry making eight feet functionally equivalent to a six-foot porch at the entrance.
- 4 Doncaster Drive (Piper): Board members noted the commonality of sheds near property lines in the neighborhood and acknowledged the topographical issues (elevation drop) presented by the applicant as justification for the side-yard encroachment.
- 27 Clearview Drive (Jacob & Raju): Board member Neely expressed initial hesitation regarding driveway width but changed his position after learning the applicants would fully replan the driveway to address water runoff and flooding issues. Board members Boucher and Shaw supported the request, citing safety concerns and the dramatic elevation changes in the neighborhood.
- Meeting Minutes: Board member Potrick proposed an amendment to the draft minutes, adding the word "not" to a sentence regarding property values ("would not have been diminished" vs "would not be diminished").
Key Outcomes
- Approval Granted Unanimously: 61 Amherst Street application for a use variance (mixed commercial/residential) and special exception (4-foot side yard encroachment for staircase).
- Approval Granted Unanimously: 3 Cherrywood Drive application for a variance (5-foot front yard setback encroachment for 8x38 farmer's porch).
- Approval Granted Unanimously: 4 Doncaster Drive application for a variance (4-foot left side yard encroachment for 8x10 shed).
- Approval Granted Unanimously: 27 Clearview Drive application for a variance (exceeding max driveway width to 30 feet).
- Minutes Approved: The minutes were approved as amended upon motion by Shaw and second by Potri.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Everyone and welcome to the November 12th meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. I'm Jay Mankara, ZBA Chair. To my right is Vice Chair Josh Neely, and then across the stage, Member JP Boucher, Member Robert Shaw, and alternate Joseph Potri. We have four regular members of the board today, so if Mr. Potri is willing, he will be participating as a voting member this evening. So tonight we have applications for both special exceptions for a special exception as well as variances. A variance application is a request to deviate from the requirements of the ordinance. In order for the zoning board to um grant variants, we have to find that five criteria are met. We have to find that granting the variance would not be contrary to the public interest, that the spirit of the ordinance would be observed, that granting the variants would do substantial justice, and that's to the owner seeking it, that the value of surrounding properties uh wouldn't be diminished, and that owing to a special condition of the property, um uh a fair and substantial relationship doesn't exist uh between the application of the zoning ordinance to the property uh and uh uh and the requirement. So um given that I I think uh hopefully everybody understands the criteria. In terms of the order of business this evening, uh each applicant, I'll read the case into the record. Each applicant will be invited to come up to the podium, uh state his or her name and address, and then you have up to 15 minutes to address the board. You don't have to use all 15 minutes, but you can if you wish. Following that, uh, we'll ask if there is anybody in the audience who wishes to speak in favor of the application. And each person can again come forward, come up to the mic, state uh his or her name and address, and we'll have up to five minutes to address the board. Uh following that, I'll ask if there's anybody who wishes to speak with any questions, concerns, or opposition. Uh and once again, each person would be asked to come forward, uh, give his or her name and address, and would have up to five minutes. I don't sense that there are too many people here to speak one way or the other, but uh in the event that there were, um, then uh one person at the end could come. Oh, I should back up. Um we will then allow the applicant to come forward uh to uh has the opportunity to rebut any comments that are made. Uh and also the applicant would have up to five minutes. And then finally, somebody who spoke with questions, concerns or opposition, uh just one person would be allowed to come forward uh and have the last word. Uh so that's the general um order of business. And um, Mr. Falk, is there any changes to the agenda this evening? Oh Mr. Chairman, there are not. Uh then given that, uh unless there's something I missed, uh we'll call the roll on Mr. Neely Present. Mr. Boucher. Present. Mr. Shaw, present. Mr. Patrick. Present. All right. With that, then I will read the first case into the record. Uh this is the application of Yu Feng Sun, 61 Amherst Street, requesting the following. One, a use variance from land use code section 190-15, table 15-1, number 90, to allow mixed uh commercial and residential use, where commercial use is primarily on the first floor with the dwelling um with the dwellings occupying the second floor. This is in the RB zone. And a special exception from land use code section 190-16 E3A, table 16-2 for a minor encroachment of four feet uh into the seven-foot required side yard setback to construct an exterior staircase to provide access to the proposed second-story dwelling unit. Again, this is in the RB zone in board three. Just to note that this application, a similar application was approved by the ZBA on August 10th, 2021. However, that approval has expired. And I'm guessing you are here to speak on behalf of the applicant. That is correct, Mr. Chair. Well, hang on a second.
openpublica.com