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.
41 items across 6 meetings.
May 27, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of $172.70, $434.50 (legal notices), and $142.70 (office supplies).
💰 $749.90 total
📋 Proposed
Routine acceptance of two prior meeting minutes.
📋 Proposed
Homeowner seeks variance to place a shed 5 ft from the side yard where 10 ft is required.
📍 27 North Street
📋 Proposed
Variance requested to allow an accessory structure 5.9 ft from the principal dwelling where 10 ft is required.
📍 72 Holman Street
📋 Proposed
Special permit sought to add an in-law apartment to a Residence A property.
📍 101 Grove Street
📋 Proposed
Two special permits requested for a combined auto/motorcycle salesroom and a garage and repair shop at a Commercial Business-zoned parcel on Rte 9.
📍 957 Boston Turnpike
📋 Proposed
Special permit to allow a home addition 25.5 ft from the front setback where 30 ft is required on a preexisting non-conforming dwelling.
📍 82 Howe Ave
📋 Proposed
Board will discuss and vote on whether proposed changes to the Friar's Farm 40B (affordable-housing) Comprehensive Permit qualify as insubstantial.
📍 105 Chestnut Street / 409 South Street
📋 Proposed
Owner requests a 6-month extension on a variance to build 63 ft tall (3+ stories) where the 45 ft / 3-story maximum applies.
📍 525 Hartford Turnpike
May 14, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Vice Chair Refolo opened; associate member Mordarski seated as fifth voting member via Mullins letter due to Chair's absence.
📍 100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury
❌ Denied
ZBA denied a variance for Trinity Church to host three food trucks (reduced from six) one day per week; board majority could not find the required hardship tied to soil, lot, or unique physical characteristics under Section 10, despite neighbors' safety and precedent concerns in Residence A zone.
💰 Trucks would have donated $50/night each to Trinity Church, projected $5,000–$6,000/year; police detail cited as costly at 4-hour minimum
📍 440 Main Street
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned at 6:49 PM.
May 14, 2026 · agenda
🔄 Postponed
Continued hearing on Teresa Goulette's variance request to permit indoor/outdoor restaurant service, including food trucks, on this Residence A-zoned parcel.
📍 440 Main Street, Shrewsbury
April 27, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
$258.50 payment to Community Advocate for April 27 legal notices approved unanimously.
💰 $258.50
✅ Approved
Prior meeting minutes approved unanimously.
✅ Approved
Two special permits granted 5-0 for a commercial development (Chase Bank-related) on Route 9; building shifted to 2.6 ft side-yard setback and a new pedestrian door with sidewalk added.
📍 103 Boston Turnpike
✅ Approved
Variance granted 5-0 to add a garage with master bedroom above at 23.6 ft from the side yard (30 ft required); non-conforming shed must be moved or separately variated before building permit issues.
📍 10 Ridge Road
🔄 Postponed
Weekly food truck night (Wednesdays 4–7 PM, up to 3 trucks) continued to May 14, 2026 at 6 PM after multiple abutters cited traffic congestion, noise, odor, parking, and wetland impacts near Saint John's High School.
📍 440 Main Street
✅ Approved
Special permit granted 4-1 for four cold-storage sheds rented to contractors; conditions require no on-site repairs, zoning-compliant screening, and a downlit lighting plan before building permit.
📍 28 Cherry Street
✅ Approved
Withdrawal granted 5-0 for a sign-within-front-yard-setback variance, allowing the applicant to reapply without waiting the standard two years after a denied decision.
📍 420 Boston Turnpike
April 27, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
$258.50 to Community Advocate for April 27 legal notice publication.
💰 $258.50
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of three prior meeting minutes.
📋 Proposed
Continued hearing on two special permits to construct a building only 0.8 ft from the front setback (40 ft required) and 8 ft from the side setback (15 ft required) on a nonconforming Commercial Business lot.
📍 103 Boston Tpke, Shrewsbury, MA
📋 Proposed
Variance request to build an addition 26.3 ft from the side yard setback where 30 ft is required in a Rural B zone.
📍 10 Ridge Road, Shrewsbury, MA
📋 Proposed
Variance sought to allow indoor and outdoor restaurant service (food trucks) on a Residence A zoned property at 440 Main St.
📍 440 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA
📋 Proposed
Special permit requested to operate a contractor's yard and storage yard on a Commercial Business parcel at 28 Cherry St.
📍 28 Cherry Street, Shrewsbury, MA
📋 Proposed
Applicant Davis Hemming seeks to withdraw a variance that would have allowed a sign within the front yard setback at 420 Boston Tpke (Commercial Business zone).
📍 420 Boston Tpke, Shrewsbury, MA
• Status unclear
Board will review any correspondence received.
March 30, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Approved $1,223.22 in Community Advocate legal notice bills for January, February, and March 2026 hearings.
💰 $1,223.22 total
✅ Approved
Prior meeting minutes approved without changes.
✅ Approved
Variance approved for a 1.3 kW off-grid solar array installed 1.4 ft from the building instead of the required 10 ft; panels are on the rear/west side and largely invisible from the road.
📍 600 South Street
❌ Denied
Applicant withdrew her ADU setback variance without prejudice after town counsel clarified the law; she plans to pursue an in-law apartment instead.
📍 101 Grove Street
✅ Approved
Two variances approved for a pre-existing non-conforming shed and pergola on a small, constrained lot; applicant is clearing compliance issues before a future project.
📍 101 Grove Street
✅ Approved
Special permit approved for a master bathroom and rear porch addition that continues the existing non-conforming front setback but does not worsen it.
📍 32 Oak Street
❌ Denied
Applicant withdrew the special permit application without prejudice; no details given.
📍 52 Ireta Road
❌ Denied
Applicant withdrew both variance applications without prejudice; no details given.
📍 703-715 Boston Turnpike
✅ Approved
Variance approved 3-2 for a new freestanding McGovern business sign located 8 ft into the required 20 ft front yard setback, driven by a 28 ft state right-of-way between the road and property line; Chair Lynch and Vice Chair Refolo dissented on visual-cohesion grounds.
📍 420 Boston Turnpike
✅ Approved
Special permit approved for a one-story 22×20 ft family room addition at a 7.7 ft side setback (10 ft required), improving on the existing non-conformity; all abutters confirmed support in writing.
📍 27 North Street
✅ Approved
Variance approved after a modular home was installed with one side setback at 10.1 ft rather than the Board-approved 11.2 ft due to a measurement error during installation; combined setbacks still exceed the prior structure.
📍 201 North Quinsigamond Avenue
🔄 Postponed
Proposal to demolish an existing building at Quinsigamond Plaza and build an ~2,800 sq ft Chase Bank branch within existing setback lines continued to April 27, 2026; an abutter at 115 Boston Turnpike raised drainage, property access, and survey disputes.
📍 103 Boston Turnpike
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned at 7:44 PM.