Board of Zoning Appeal · July 15, 2021

Cases (11)

6:00 P.M. BZA-127462 · 197 VASSAL LANE - TOBIN SCHOOL Residence B Zone/Open Space CITY OF CAMBRIDGE - C/O LOUIS DEPASQUALE, CITY MANAGER Variance: New construction of a 299, 942 gsf school building, for PK-8th grade, on the existing Vassal Lane school site, and contiguous Father Callanan playground. The City of Cambridge seeks a variance for relief from the Board of Zoning Appeal from the procedural requirements of section 4.25 for a non -open space use in an OS district; FAR,.5 for RES B (1.2 allowed by 5.45.1) and.25 for OS; the Height requirement of 45' for RES B and 35' for OS (5.54.1.d); the 80 % solar energy system roof coverage (22.35.2). Relief from Article 7.000 sign requirements quantity, size, and allowance is requested. A variance for rel ief is requested on the vehicular aisle width (6.42) in the Garage, below grade parking area. Art. 4.25 (OS Procedural Requirement). Sec. 4.30 (Footnote 11). Art. 5.000, Sec. 5.31, 5.35 (Table of Dimensional Requirements). Sec. 5.54.1.A (FAR), Sec. 5.54.1.D (Height). Art. 6.000, Sec. 6.42 (Off Street - Parking Width of Aisles). Art. 7.000, Sec. 7.16.11 & 7.16.21.B (Signage). Art. 22.000, Sec. 22.35.2 (80% Solar Energy System Coverage). Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.30 (Variance). Special Permit: To allow for tandem parking which will provide an additional 33 parking spaces (there are 66 tandem parking spaces), Section 6.43.2 requires that parking spaces permit entering and exiting without moving another vehicle. Art. 6.000, Sec. 6.43.2 (Tandem Parking). Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.40 (Special Permit). [special-permit] [variance]
6:15 P.M. BZA-120040 · 150 CAMBRIDGEPARK DRIVE Office 2-A/AOD-6 LONGFELLOW REAL ESTATE PARTNERS - C/O JAMES J. RAFFERTY, ESQ. Variance: To construct new elevator shaft for a freight elevator and enclose existing covered walkway surrounding the base of the building. Petitioner also seeks to construct expanded loading dock. Art. 5.000, Sec. 5.32 (Table of Dimensional Requirements). Art. 8.000, Sec. 8.22.3 (Non-Conforming Structure). Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.30 (Variance). [variance]
6:30 P.M. BZA-119516 · 30 VASSAL LANE Residence B Zone MARION REINE & KATHLEEN REINE - C/O SHRUTI KULKARNI Special Permit: To enlarge kitchen window on the existing rear façade of the house. Art. 8.000, Sec. 8.22.2.C (Non-Conforming Structure). & Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.40 (Special Permit). [special-permit]
6:45 P.M. BZA-119814 · 110 BERKSHIRE STREET - UNIT 1 Residence C-1 Zone JUDY & DWIGHT TREW - C/O DAVID M. FENCHEL, R.A Special Permit: To relocate an existing window and add a matching window in a non-conforming wall due to an existing minimum side yard setback. Art. 5.000, Sec. 5.31 (Table of Dimensional Requirements). Art. 8.000, Sec. 8.22.2.C (Non-Conforming Structure). Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.40 (Special Permit). [special-permit]
7:00 P.M. BZA-120388 · 237 PUTNAM AVENUE Residence C-1 Zone CPI/BRICKMAN BSS OWNER, LLC - C/O JOHANNA SCHNEIDER, ESQ. Variance: To enclose an existing 10'x20' open pedestrian walkway that connects the third floor of 237 Putnam Avenue to the third floor of 21 Blackstone Street. Art. 5.000, Sec. 5.31 (Table of Dimensional Requirements). Art. 4.000, Sec. 4.34 (Office and Laboratory Use). & Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.30 (Variance). [variance]
7:15 P.M. BZA-122045 · 25 KELLEY STREET Residence B Zone RICARDO WELLISCH & CARY FRIEDMAN - C/O ELIZABETH CAHILL Variance: To use existing garage structure as a storage shed and a spa shed open to the garden. Art. 5.000, Sec. 5.31 (Table of Dimensional Requirements). & Sec. 5.13 (Separation of Buildings). Art. 8.000, Sec. 8.22.3 (Non-Conforming Structure). Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.30 (Variance). [variance]
7:30 P.M. BZA-122191 · 1043-1059 CAMBRIDGE STREET Business A/Residence C-2B Zone 1043 CAMBRIDGE STREET LLC - C/O JAMES HEFFERNAN Variance: To extend previously approved Variance relief to locate the residential portion of its Mixed -Use development (also approved by the Planning Board (Case No. 336) within the side yard setbacks, and further to request Variance relief for the elevator roof access for accessibility and access to the previously approved roof decks. Art. 5.000, Sec. 5.31 (Table of Dimensional Requirements). Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.30 (Variance). [variance]
7:45 P.M. BZA-121712 · 133 ELM STREET - UNIT 2 Residence C -1 Zone SAM FENTRESS - C/O DAMON SIDEL Variance: Extension of the main gable roof over the 2-story rear addition and the addition of two shed dormers, one on each side. Art. 5.000, Sec. 5.31 (Table of Dimensional Requirements). & Sec. 8.000, Sec. 8.22.3 (Non -Conforming Structure). [variance]
8:00 P.M. BZA-115236 · 159 ALLSTON STREET Residence C Zon e GERALDINE SMALL & EDWARD SMALL, JR. - C/O GWENDOLEN NOYES, ARCHITECT Variance: To modify the plans/elevations approved by the Zoning Board Case No. BZA-017176-2019. Art. 5.000, Sec. 5.31 (Table of Dimensional Requirements). [variance]
8:15 P.M. BZA-125782 · 2067 MASS AVENUE Business A-2 Zone CELLCO PARTNERSHIP D/B/A VERIZON WIRELESS - C/O DANIEL D. KLASNICK, ESQ. Special Permit: To modify the existing mobile communications facility by relocating 6 antennas to 3 new proposed side by side mounts and relocating 3 antennas to an existing mount, installing 3 new antennas on an existing mount and retaining 3 existing antennas all at the same location mounted to the existing sector frames or penthouse wall at a top height to match the existing antennas. Art. 4.000, Sec. 4.32.G.1 & Sec. 4.40 (Footnote 49) (Telecommunication Facility). Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.40 -10.46 (Special Permit). 6409A - Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (aka Spectrum Act). [special-permit]
8:30 P.M. BZA-121039 · 65 BANKS STREET Residence C-1 Zone LUBAVITCH OF CAMBRIDGE, INC. - C/O ELKA ZARCHI Special Permit: To create temporary classrooms while new facility is renovated at 243 Hamp shire Street and to meet demand for affordable daycare as families are required to return to work after Covid restrictions. Art. 4.000, Sec. 4.33.B.3 (Day Care Use). Sec. 4.56.C.2 (Institutional Use Regulations). & Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.40 (Special Permi t). [special-permit]

Hearing Record (transcript)

Present: Constantine Alexander (Chair), Brendan Sullivan (Vice Chair), Wendy Leiserson, Laura Wernick, Slater W. Anderson

Staff: Sisia Daglian

Verbatim record: Data/Boards/BZA_transcripts/2021-07-15.txt (189 pages)

BZA-127462 · 197 Vassal Lane – Tobin School · granted
Spoke: 5 people (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
Public comment: 6 members of the public spoke (speakers are named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-120040 · 150 Cambridgepark Drive · continued
Spoke: 1 person (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-119516 · 30 Vassal Lane · granted
Spoke: 1 person (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-119814 · 110 Berkshire Street – Unit 1 · granted
Spoke: 1 person (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-120388 · 237 Putnam Avenue · granted
Spoke: 1 person (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-122045 · 25 Kelley Street · granted
Spoke: 1 person (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-122191 · 1043-1059 Cambridge Street · continued
Spoke: 1 person (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-121712 · 133 Elm Street – Unit 2 · granted
Spoke: 3 people (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
Public comment: 4 members of the public spoke (speakers are named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-115236 · 159 Allston Street · granted
Spoke: 3 people (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-125782 · 2067 Mass Avenue · granted
Spoke: 1 person (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
BZA-121039 · 65 Banks Street · granted
Spoke: 2 people (named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)
Public comment: 1 member of the public spoke (speakers are named in the official minutes; not listed here, by policy)