Dunkin' Donuts Special Permit Renewed at ZBA Hearing

The annual special permit renewal passes Zoning Board of Appeals hearing.

Presenting a request to renew their special permit at the 951 Worcester street Dunkin' Donuts, Franchisee Bill Donovan came before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). With him, Jeffrey Dirk, Vice President of Vanasse and Associates, Donovan's traffic consultant.  This is a renewal of an existing special permit which allows the restaurant to operate the drive-through window. In 2008, the Zoning Board suggested a number of changes to mitigate the increased traffic such a facility would create. "We did the traffic study to see what effects the changes had," Dirk explained, going over the traffic numbers included in the application.  One of the Board's concerns was the amount of parking on the site. There are only 11 parking spaces on the site…

ZBA Debates Fate of 139 Linden Street

Zoning Board of Appeals meets to consider Affordable Housing application.

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met to discuss the application for a Chapter 40B affordable housing building. For several years, Perdoni Bros. LLC has worked with several town boards in attempts to figure out their unique 139 Linden St. property. There are two buildings on the property: one with two apartments, the other houses C & T Paint and Wallpaper.  "I don't know of any other--there may be some--properties which are so small and are in three zones,"  said Atty. Larry Shind, representing Perdoni Bors. The 139 Linden St. site is zoned for commercial, residential and industrial uses. The Perdoni brothers have petitioned for re-zoning twice before, to no avail. The plan presented to the ZBA is a mixed-use building, not only with four …

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Zoning Board Debates Worcester Street CVS Location

The proposed CVS Pharmacy on Worcester Street saw opposition from neighbors, ZBA comments.

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) heard the case of the CVS Pharmacy proposed on Worcester Street, presented by Attorney Brian Levey, and Senior Project Engineer Brian Murphy and Project Manager Patrick Dunford of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, inc. As it stands, the site is run down, with the rear of the property actually eroding into Vogel brook. There was an auto dealer and a gas station here once, but even the gas storage tanks are gone because they began leaking. Along with the construction of a CVS, and considerable landscaping, the project also provides for the removal of dumped car parts and other trash in the wetlands area.  "CVS doesn't want to put money in this and have it look like a dump," Murphy noted, when asked about maintenance …

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ZBA Approves Addition, Garage Renovation

Board OKs two house projects for Ahearn-Schopfer Associates.

In preparing 22 Valley Road for resale, the owners hired Patrick Ahearn of Ahearn Schopfer Associates to add on to the second story, extending the floor over an existing deck, built atop a previous addition to the home. "We are proposing to architecturally improve this wing of the house," explained Ahearn. After hearing the proposed plan, the board reviewed their notes for any concerns they had noted earlier. "I think it's a great improvement," commented board member Cynthia Hibbard. "I have no questions." It seemed like the plan was heading for unanimous approval, until a neighbor approached the board. "It's going to bring, from what I understand, the addition closer to my house." Neighbor Steve Rabin, of 28 Valley Road, added, "I object …

Zoning Board of Appeals Approves Newton-Wellesley Ambulatory Services Plans

ZBA approves special permit and site plan for Newton-Wellesley Hospital's new facility.

In a special meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Attorney Bob Davis, along with Jack O'Neil and Mark Paris of National Development presented their plans for 27 Washington St., formerly the Grossman's site. The site will house a future retail store, luxury senior housing and some assisted living units, but it was the the Ambulatory Surgery facility for Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH) that concerned the board. The facility will handle outpatient procedures and daytime surgeries. The facility will have preparation, operating, and recovery rooms, starting with two OR facilities and expanding to four over time. There is no Emergency Room function at this satellite facility. However, Gould said, that is, "not precluding emergency situations…

ZBA Grants Permits for Wellesley Country Club, Papa Gino's Pronto

Illuminated signs approved on condition that they be on timers.

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) began its Thursday meeting with a proposal from Michael Tartamella to replace an existing garage with a two-car garage at 7 Arlington Road. Tartamella, an architect with Ahearn Schopfer Associates, planned to replace the old one-car garage with a two-car garage set further back on the property. The plan included a small poolside changing room in the detached addition. Concerned that adding water facilities to a garage could set a dangerous precedent, Board Vice-Chair Randolph Becker commented that there was "No natural affinity between those two uses." Tartamella agreed to eliminate all of the plumbing and re-submit a plan. With this provision, the board granted the special permit. Next, Homeowner Jason …

WHS Exterior Design Worries Design Review Board

Officials concerned about apparent changes to original design plans for new building.

Complaints by a Seaver Street resident and member of the School Building Committee at Wednesday night's Design Review Board meeting had board members concerned about progress on the exterior design plan for the new Wellesley High School. The woman, who would not identify herself but said she also served on the School Building Committee, informed the DRB that not only was the board left out of the exterior design decision making process, but that they now also had to deal with what appears to be incongruities between what was originally proposed by the construction company last fall and the mock-ups now being supplied.  The woman was later identified by Assistant Planning Director Michael Zehner as Cynthia Westerman. Westerman is a member …

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Zoning Board of Appeals OKs 10 Petitions

Wellesley College receives 3 renewals; Sprint Spectrum's plan put on hold

With tipoff of Game 1 of the NBA Finals only 90 minutes from the start of Thursday night's Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, the body approved 10 petitions in what Chairman Richard Seegel—in his jolly bass that recalls Paul Frees' Santa Claus from the 1969 classic "Frosty the Snowman"—pronounced record time. Wellesley College requested and received three renewals of special permits to use off-campus buildings for purposes typically prohibited in single-residence districts. The board, represented by Seegal, Vice Chairman Randolph Becker and David Sheffield, approved unanimously the college's continued use of a house at 33 Dover Road as a language residence for seven students. It also extended the use of a house at 629 Washington Street as a …

Planning Board approves projects

The Wellesly Planning Board approved projects for this Thursday's ZBA public hearing.

            Nine upcoming proposals for construction and permitting projects in Wellesley were given the stamp of approval by the Wellesley Planning Board Monday night. The board met briefly before Town Meeting to evaluate the numerous upcoming proposals on the agenda for the town's Zoning Board of Appeals; and while the board was willing to approve nine of the ten proposals, their approval came with conditions.             Below is a breakdown of the ten proposals, including the Planning Board's recommendations for each:             42 Clovelly Road: A petition for a special permit to build a 30 foot by 35 foot, two-story addition, along with the construction of a 24 foot by 25 foot two-car garage. The home is a nonconforming structure …