Zoning Board of Appeals

BO AR D M EM BE R S Jordan Berg Powers, Chair Lawrence Abramoff, Vice Chair George Cortes Eric Torkornoo Erik Bartenhagen, Alternate Member Matthew Sacco, Alternate Member ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS C ON T A CT • Address: City Hall, 455 Main St, MEETING AGENDA Room 404, Worcester, MA 01608 Monday, February 2, 2026 –5:30pm - Worcester City Hall Levi Lincoln Chamber, 3rd Floor (Room 309), 455 Main Street • Hours: M-F, 8:30 am-5:00 pm • Phone: (508) 799-1400 x31440 • Email: planning@worcesterma.gov This Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals meeting will be held in-person at the • Website: date, time and location listed above. Meeting attendees will additionally have www.worcesterma.gov/planning- options to participate remotely by joining online or by phone: regulatory • Use the following link to join the meeting via computer The Zoning Board is committed to https://worcesterma.zoomgov.com/j/1604564634 ensuring that its public meetings are accessible to all. Should you require interpretation, auxiliary aids, services, written materials in other formats, • Call 1-669-254-5252 (Access Code: 160 456 4634) or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, please contact the Planning Division a minimum of 2 business days in advance of the Note: If technological problems interrupt the virtual meeting component, the scheduled meeting. meeting will continue in-person. Hay disponibles servicios de interpretación y otras adaptaciones con solicitud previa. Application materials may be viewed by appointment at Planning and ‫اﻟﻤﺴﺒﻖ اﻟﻄﻠﺐ ﻋﻨﺪ اﻟﺘﯿﺴﯿﺮ وﺳﺎﺋﻞ ﻣﻦ وﻏﯿﺮھﺎ اﻟﻔﻮرﯾﺔ اﻟﺘﺮﺟﻤﺔ ﺗﺘﻮﻓﺮ‬ Regulatory Services, 455 Main St, Room 404, between 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., अनवु ◌ाद र अ6य आवसह अ'-म अनरोधपचत ◌ु उपल5ध Monday through Friday. हु6छ। For more information concerning this meeting, please contact the Interpretação e outras adaptações estão disponíveis mediante solicitação prévia. Planning and Regulatory Services Division by email at planning@worcesterma.gov or phone at 508-799-1400 x31440. Please submit Përkthimi dhe akomodime të tjera janë në dispozicion me kërkesë paraprake. requests for reasonable accommodation or requests for language interpretation 2 business days or more in advance of the meeting. Send written comments Kasa nkyerɛaseɛ ɛne akwanya afoforɔ da hɔ ma wɔn a wɔn bɛ bisa ato hɔ. no less than 48 hours before the public meeting. Phiên dịch và các hỗ trợ khác có sẵn theo Las solicitudes de intérpretes para personas con dominio limitado del inglés yêu cầu trước. deben hacerse a más tardar 2 días hábiles antes de la reunión. Para obtener más DI V IS IO N S TA F F información en relación con esta reunión o enviar comentarios o preguntas por escrito antes de la reunión, contacte a: planning@worcesterma.gov or 508-799- Michelle M. Smith, ACDO 1400 x31440. Eric Flint, Conservation Planner Mattie VandenBoom, Conservation Agent Asst. Michelle Johnstone, Sr. Preservation Planner Call to Order – 5:30 pm Rose Russell, Senior Planner Joe Trebilcock, Addressing Coordinator Requests for Continuances, Extensions, Postponements, & Olivia Houle, Planning Analyst Withdrawals Amy Beth Laythe, Planning Analyst Jorjette Lewis-Tyndale, Administrative Asst. U P CO MI N G M EE TI N GS January 12, 2026 February 2, 2026 February 23, 2026 March 16, 2026 April 6, 2026 April 27, 2026 1  Old Business – Public Hearings 1. 172-174 Shrewsbury Street (ZB-2025-084) Variance: For relief from the minimum front yard setback requirement for uses with ground-floor residence within the CCOD (Commercial Corridors Overlay District) zone. (Article IX, Section 6.A.1.a) Variance: For relief from the minimum off-street parking requirements for a multi-family dwelling. (Article IX, Section 7, Table 9.1) Variance: For relief from the maximum number of compact parking space requirements. (Article IV, Section 7, Table 4.4, Note 3.b.) Petitioner: Parkside Holdings Inc Present Use: Presently on the premises is a building with offices and commercial space on the ground floor. Zone Designation: BG-3.0 (Business, General) zoning district, the Commercial Corridor Overlay District - Shrewsbury Street Subarea (CCOD-S) and the Union Station Sign Overlay District (USOD). Petition Purpose: The applicant seeks to convert all, or a portion of, the existing building to residential units, resulting in ±44 new residential units, construct a parking area in the rear with ±17 spaces, and make associated site improvements. Testimony Date: 12/8/2025 Constructive Grant Deadline: 2/24/2026 2. 56 Pleasant Street & 0 Aldrich Street (ZB-2026-004) Variance: For relief from the minimum front yard setback requirement for a high-rise multi-family building in the CCOD (Article IX, Section 6. A. 1.). Petitioner: 56 Pleasant Street LLC Present Use: Presently on the premises of 56 Pleasant Street and 0 Aldrich Street are vacant lots. Zone Designation: BG-6.0 (Business, General) zoning district, in the Commercial Corridors Overlay District - Downtown (CCOD-D) and the Downtown/Blackstone Canal Sign Overlay District (BSOD). Petition Purpose: The applicant seeks to construct ±19-story, high-rise multi-family dwelling with ±225 units, ground-floor commercial spaces and to conduct associated site improvements. Testimony Date: 1/12/2026 Constructive Grant Deadline: 4/1/2026 New Business – Public Hearings 3. 143 Highland Street (ZB-2025-067) Amendment to Decision ZB-1996-023: Variance: For relief from the minimum parking requirement for a food service use (Article IX, Section 7, Table 9.1.). Special Permit: To allow food service, including consumption/sale of alcoholic beverages and/or providing dancing or entertainment use in a BL-1.0 zone (Business Use #8, - Food Service/Lounge/Nightclub). Petitioner: Patrick Joseph Present Use: Presently on the premises is a food service establishment that excludes the consumption/sale of alcohol (Business Use #7). Zone Designation: BL-1.0 (Business, Limited) zoning district and the Commercial Corridors Overlay District - Elsewhere (CCOD-E). Petition Purpose: The applicant seeks to amend the original approval (ZB-1996-023) to allow for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages and to reduce the number of off-site leased spaces (Business Use #8). 2 Public Hearing Deadline: 3/20/2026 Constructive Grant Deadline: 4/24/2026 New Business – Public Hearings 4. 26 Milton Street (ZB-2025-089) Lot A: Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (stories) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (feet) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the minimum setback requirement for an accessory structure (Article IV, Section 8.B.10) Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces. (Article IV, Section 7.A.2) Lot B: Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (stories) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (feet) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the minimum setback requirement for an accessory structure (Article IV, Section 8.B.10) Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces. (Article IV, Section 7.A.2) Lot C: Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (stories) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (feet) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the minimum setback requirement for an accessory structure (Article IV, Section 8.B.10) Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces. (Article IV, Section 7.A.2) Petitioner: Milton Street Properties, LLC Present Use: Presently on the premises are 3 partially built single-family attached style dwellings and a ±15 FT retaining wall. Zone Designation: RG-5 (Residence, General) zoning district. Petition Purpose: The applicant seeks retroactive approval for a previously built retaining wall on the property and retroactive approval to construct three single-family attached dwellings and associated site improvements. Public Hearing Deadline: 2/2/2026 Constructive Grant Deadline: 2/24/2026 3  New Business – Public Hearings 5. 28 Milton Street (ZB-2025-090) Lot A: Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (stories) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (feet) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the minimum setback requirement for an accessory structure (Article IV, Section 8.B.10) Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces. (Article IV, Section 7.A.2) Lot B: Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (stories) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (feet) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the minimum setback requirement for an accessory structure (Article IV, Section 8.B.10) Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces. (Article IV, Section 7.A.2) Lot C: Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (stories) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (feet) for a single-family attached dwelling in an RG-5 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the minimum setback requirement for an accessory structure (Article IV, Section 8.B.10) Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces. (Article IV, Section 7.A.2) Petitioner: Milton Street Properties, LLC Present Use: Presently on the premises are 3 partially built single-family attached style dwellings and a ±15 FT retaining wall. Zone Designation: RG-5 (Residence, General) zoning district. Petition Purpose: The applicant seeks retroactive approval for a previously built retaining wall on the property and retroactive approval to construct three single-family attached dwellings and associated site improvements. Public Hearing Deadline: 2/2/2026 Constructive Grant Deadline: 2/24/2026 New Business – Public Hearings 6. 540 West Boylston Street (ZB-2026-002) Special Permit: To extend, alter or change a privileged pre-existing, nonconforming use to a use of a similar nature. (Article XVI, Section 4.C). Special Permit: To extend, alter or change a privileged pre-existing, nonconforming use. (Article XVI, Section 4.C). 4 Special Permit: To allow a Motor Vehicle Service use in a BL-1.0 zone (Article IV, Section 2, Table 4.1, Retail Sales, Business Use #16). Petitioner: Town Fair Tire Center Present Use: Presently on the premises is a vacant ±20,049 SF commercial building with two tenant spaces, previously used for retail sales, and an associated ±98 space surface parking lot. Zone Designation: The property is split zoned between the BL-1.0 (Business, Limited) and the RG-5 (Residence, General) zoning districts. Petition Purpose: The applicant seeks to renovate part of the existing structure to operate a ±7,978 SF retail space to support a ±2,850 SF 6-bay Tire Installation Center, with a secondary ±9,918 SF tenant space to remain unchanged. The applicant seeks to reconfigure the parking facility to provide for ±58 spaces, related landscaping, pedestrian infrastructure, and loading, and to conduct associated site improvements. Public Hearing Deadline: 2/25/2026 Constructive Grant Deadline: TBD 7. 22 Cumberland Street (ZB-2026-008) Variance: For relief from the minimum lot area requirement for a multi-family, low rise dwelling in the RL-7 zoning district (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the minimum parking requirements for a multi-family dwelling. (Article IV, Section 7, Table 4.4) Amendment to Special Permit (granted 4/3/1985): Special Permit: To allow a multi-family, low-rise dwelling in the RL-7 zone (Article IV, Section 2, Table 4.1, Residential Use #11). Petitioner: Ermani Properties, LLC Present Use: Presently the premises is a 4-unit multi-family, low-rise dwelling. Zone Designation: RL-7 (Residence, Limited) zoning district, and partially within the Water Resources Protection Overlay District (WR(GP-3)). Petition Purpose: The applicant is seeking to conduct internal renovations to construct 2 additional units in the basement, increasing the total number of units to 6, and to conduct associated site improvements. Public Hearing Deadline: 3/15/2026 Constructive Grant Deadline: 4/19/2026 8. 12 Malden Street (ZB-2026-010) Variance: For relief from the minimum lot area requirements for single-family attached style dwelling in the RL-7 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Variance: For relief from the minimum frontage requirements for single-family attached style dwelling in the RL-7 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2) Special Permit: To allow a single-family attached style dwelling in the RL-7 zone (Article IV, Section 2, Table 4.1, Residential Use #12) Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces. (Article IV, Section 7.A.2) Petitioner: Wolfe Farms LLC Present Use: Presently on the premises is a vacant lot. Zone Designation: RL-7 (Residence, Limited) zoning district Petition Purpose: The applicant seeks to construct four, 2½ -story single-family attached style buildings (three-units per building) with a total of ±12 units, ±36 parking spaces (surface and garage spaces), bicycle storage, and to conduct associated site improvements. Public Hearing Deadline: 3/21/2026 Constructive Grant Deadline: 4/25/2026 5 New Business – Public Hearings 9. 342 West Boylston Street (ZB-2026-011) Extension of Time (ZB-2025-006): Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (stories) for a high-rise multi-family dwelling in an BL-1.0 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2). Variance: For relief from the maximum height requirement (feet) for a high-rise multi-family dwelling in an BL-1.0 zone (Article IV, Section 4, Table 4.2). Variance: For relief from the minimum parking requirements for a multi-family dwelling (Article IX, Section 7 Table 9.1). Petitioner: 342 West Boylston LLC Present Use: Presently on the premises is a vacant commercial building previously used as a restaurant. Zone Designation: BL-1.0 (Business, Limited) zoning district and within the Commercial Corridors Overlay District – Elsewhere (CCOD-E). Petition Purpose: The applicant seeks a six-month extension of time of the previously approved relief (ZB-2025-006) to raze the current building and construct a ±5-story, ±24-unit multi-family, high-rise dwelling, parking facilities, and to conduct associated site improvements. Public Hearing Deadline: n/a Constructive Grant Deadline: n/a Other Business 10. Communications 11. Discussion of Board Policies and Procedures a) 2026 Meeting Deadlines and Schedule - Vote b) Elections for Chair & Vice Chair in the new year 12. Approval of Minutes – 12/29/2025, 1/12/2026 13. Adjournment 6