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The Zoning Board of Appeals derives its jurisdiction from Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40A and is the permit granting authority within the Town of Belmont. The Board meets on the first Monday of each month and more frequently when needed. Residents or businesses seeking relief in the form of a special permit or a variance initiate virtually all matters that come before the Board.
The regular members of the Board included John W. Gahan III, Chair, William D. Chin, Anthony L. Leccese, Carlo Tagariello, and Rebecca Vose. Anthony Leccese represented the Board at the Belmont Economic Development Planning Group and expects to provide guidance on the Town’s permitting process. Martin Cohen, Arthur Krieger, and Robert Plunkett provided invaluable assistance in acting as alternates in the absence of regular members. Thank you to Charles Reardon, who after many years on the Board, both as a regular and alternate member, did not seek to be reappointed. His thoughtful insight will be truly missed.
The year 2002 continued to be busy for the Zoning Board of Appeals. The applications heard by the Board in 2002 were far ranging and complex. As the real estate and construction sectors of the economy continued to be robust, the majority of applications involved requests by residents to enlarge their existing residences to provide more living and/or recreational space. Whether the applications were for construction of dormers with no change in footprint, second floor additions or construction of decks, in most cases the structures involved already were nonconforming and relief was needed because of setback requirements and/or lot coverage issues. As evident this year, there continues to be a tremendous amount of pressure on the Board to allow more development. The Board has been very thoughtful and deliberative
in reviewing these requests and has not decided these applications lightly. These applications are reviewed in context of the existing home, the neighborhood and the surrounding community. In the Board’s judgment, the Town needs to be aware that the current trend in Town is to build “up”, not out and, as a Town we need to address that trend.
Several non-residential applications are worthy of note. As wireless telephone carriers continue to build out their systems and fill in gaps, several wireless antennae applications, with assistance by the Planning Board, were reviewed and approved by the Board. More wireless telephone applications are expected given the continued frustration that many residents have with dropped calls in Town. Another interesting application was the appeal by Atlantic Retirement Corporation (the assisted living facility developer at McLean Hospital) of the Planning Board’s Site Plan Approval. This was the first time that the Board was asked to review a decision made by the Planning Board, an awkward position for the Board to say the least.
The Board's job in 2002 was made easier by the valuable and extensive help provided by the Town's Community Development Office and, in particular, Jeffrey Wheeler, the Town’s Planning Coordinator, and Adriana D’Andrea, Administrative Assistant. The Board also thanks the other Town departments and boards, especially Donna Moultrup, Director of the Board of Health, that provide guidance and leadership on a variety of occasions.
Respectfully submitted,
John W. Gahan III, Chair
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