Zoning Board (ZBA)
Grants exceptions to local zoning rules — for example, allowing a building that's slightly too close to a property line. Their decisions can be appealed to court within 20 days.
45 items across 8 meetings.
June 23, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Routine meeting opening.
📋 Proposed
Homeowners seek a Special Permit to build a front porch on a pre-existing non-conforming building and lot at 76 Roberts Road (Map 15, Lot 20, RA zone).
📍 76 Roberts Road, Assessors Map 15, Lot 20
🔄 Postponed
55 West Union LLC seeks a 40B (affordable-housing law) permit for a 4-story, 116-unit rental building on 4.9 acres — 87 market-rate and 29 income-restricted units — in the Commercial Highway district; hearing has been ongoing since August 2025.
📍 55 West Union Street, Assessors Map 19, Lot 62
📋 Proposed
James MacDonald requests a Variance and two Special Permits to demolish an existing duplex and replace it with a new duplex with attached one-car garages on a non-conforming lot in the Residential B zone.
📍 167-169 Pleasant Street, Assessors Map 13, Lot 68
• Status unclear
Approval of prior meeting minutes.
• Status unclear
Routine staff updates and administrative business.
• Status unclear
Meeting close.
June 9, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Routine meeting opening.
🔄 Postponed
40B (affordable-housing law) proposal for a 116-unit, 4-story rental building on 4.9 acres at 55 West Union St (Map 19, Lot 62, CH District); 29 units income-restricted at ≤80% AMI — hearing continued to June 23, not discussed June 9.
📍 55 West Union Street, Assessors Map 19, Lot 20
📋 Proposed
Owners seek a special permit to add a front porch to a pre-existing non-conforming building and lot at 76 Roberts Rd (Map 15, Lot 20), Residential A zone.
📍 76 Roberts Road, Assessors Map 15, Lot 20
📋 Proposed
Owner requests a variance and two special permits to demolish an existing duplex and build a new duplex with attached one-car garages per unit at 167-169 Pleasant St (Map 13, Lot 68), Residential B zone.
📍 167-169 Pleasant Street, Assessors Map 13, Lot 68
📋 Proposed
Approval of minutes from the May 12 and May 26 meetings.
• Status unclear
Routine staff updates and administrative items.
• Status unclear
Routine meeting close.
May 26, 2026 · minutes
🔄 Postponed
Board reviewed 28 regulatory waiver requests for the 40B (affordable-housing law) project but held off drafting a decision pending soil boring analysis and resolution of a major sewer line placement issue; hearing continued to June 23, 2026 (4-0 vote).
📍 55 West Union Street, Ashland MA
✅ Approved
Minutes approved 5-0.
💬 Discussed
Director Farinacci noted a Special Permit hearing is scheduled for the June 9 ZBA meeting.
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM (5-0 vote).
May 26, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Routine opening of the meeting.
📋 Proposed
55 West Union LLC seeks a 40B (affordable-housing law) permit to build a 4-story, 116-unit rental building (87 market-rate, 29 income-restricted at ≤80% AMI) on 4.9 acres at 55 West Union St, Map 19 Lot 62, Commercial Highway District.
📍 55 West Union Street, Assessors Map 19, Lot 62
• Status unclear
Approval of minutes from the April 28 and May 12 meetings.
• Status unclear
Routine staff updates and administrative business.
• Status unclear
Routine meeting close.
May 12, 2026 · minutes
🔄 Postponed
40B (affordable-housing law) hearing continued 5-0 to May 26, 2026, pending soil boring results needed to advance sewer system discussion and waiver requests.
📍 55 West Union Street, Ashland MA
✅ Approved
Board ratified 3-0 a previously voted decision for this property after a miscommunication at the prior meeting; Chair Trefethen recused.
📍 Captain Eames Circle and Algonquin Trail, Ashland MA
• Status unclear
April 28 minutes were not available for review.
💬 Discussed
ZBA application fees have been updated; new fees were applied immediately to a Special Permit application received the same day.
💰 Fee increases effective immediately for new ZBA applications
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM.
May 12, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Routine start of meeting.
📋 Proposed
55 West Union LLC seeks a 40B (affordable-housing law) permit for a 4-story, 116-unit rental building (87 market-rate, 29 income-restricted at ≤80% AMI) on 4.9 acres at 55 West Union St, Map 19, Lot 62, in the Commercial Highway District; hearing ongoing since at least August 2025.
📍 55 West Union Street, Assessors Map 19, Lot 62
📋 Proposed
ZBA will vote to ratify a prior decision regarding Captain Eames Circle and Algonquin Trail; no details about the underlying matter are provided in the agenda.
📍 Captain Eames Circle and Algonquin Trail
📋 Proposed
Approval of April 28 meeting minutes.
• Status unclear
Routine staff updates and administrative items.
• Status unclear
End of meeting.
April 28, 2026 · minutes
🔄 Postponed
Hearing continued 6-0 to May 12 pending soil borings; the central dispute is whether sewer can run via gravity down Memorial Drive or requires a pump station the Town opposes — a comparable station costs $2,000/month in electricity alone, plus staffing.
💰 Chestnut Street pump station: ~$2,000/month electricity; 2006 partial rehab ~$1.2M; applicant offered $50K toward two years of pump station maintenance
📍 55 West Union Street
✅ Approved
Board adopted the written decision memorializing its prior vote on the Building Commissioner appeal; Chair Trefethen recused, approved 3-0 by Forestal, Sullivan, and Gurran.
📍 Captain Eames Circle and Algonquin Trail
✅ Approved
April 14 minutes approved 6-0 (Trefethen abstained from the portion in which he was recused).
✅ Approved
Abutter notification fees and legal ad fees charged to applicants increased; approved 6-0.
💰 Increases to abutter notification and legal ad fees (amounts not specified)
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM.
April 28, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Routine opening of meeting.
📋 Proposed
40B (affordable-housing law) hearing continues for a proposed 4-story, 116-unit rental building (29 income-restricted at ≤80% AMI, 87 market-rate) on 4.9 acres at 55 West Union St., Map 19 Lot 62, Commercial Highway District.
📍 55 West Union Street, Assessors Map 19, Lot 62
📋 Proposed
ZBA will review and approve a draft decision on a Building Commissioner appeal tied to the Captain Eames Circle and Algonquin Trail area.
📍 Captain Eames Circle and Algonquin Trail
📋 Proposed
Approve minutes from the April 14, 2026 meeting.
📋 Proposed
ZBA will consider adopting a new fee schedule for permit applications.
💰 Fee amounts not specified in agenda
• Status unclear
Routine close of meeting.