Summary

Zoning Board advances housing and site projects

WorcesterDec 8, 20252 min read

At a glance

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The Board approved seven applications, including projects for 77 residential units at 70-74 Winter Street, 40 units at 26-28 Woodland Street, a duplex at 73 Wall Street, and a new home lot at 37 Summerhill Avenue. It continued the 44-unit 172-174 Shrewsbury Street proposal and the 40-unit 1103 Millbury Street proposal for further review.

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Zoning Board of Appeals

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EnvironmentalHousing

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What this means

The Board granted zoning relief for several housing and redevelopment projects, generally with conditions, staff recommendations, and waivers. Approved projects include adaptive reuse of vacant or commercial space for housing, additions to existing homes, and new residential construction. The Board postponed or continued other proposals so applicants can address issues including parking, community outreach, building height, landscaping, stormwater, and site stabilization.

Key decisions

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Approved 17 Montclair Drive's special permit for partially retroactive backyard fill and regrading, with stabilization, monitoring, construction-management, and reporting conditions. Updated plans are due by March 1, 2026, with construction to be completed by the end of June.
Approved variances for 37 Summerhill Avenue to divide the parcel and construct a new single-family home, subject to conditions including filing a definitive frontage subdivision plan with the Planning Board.
Continued 172-174 Shrewsbury Street's proposal for 44 residential units and 17 rear parking spaces to January 12, with the constructive grant deadline extended to February 3. The Board indicated that community outreach should occur before the item returns.
Approved the variance for 26-28 Woodland Street to convert two commercial spaces into residential units, creating eight total units, with amended conditions including a certified survey requirement.
Approved 9 Chadwick Street's special permit for an addition to an existing two-family dwelling, allowing construction to proceed while bringing the work into zoning compliance.
Continued 1103 Millbury Street's proposal for a 40-unit multifamily building with 80 parking spaces to December 29, with a constructive grant deadline of January 13. The applicant was asked to provide additional lighting, height, landscaping, and visual materials.
Approved 561 Plantation Street's special permit for a 7,700-square-foot, two-story for-profit swimming school, with a condition addressing a continuous pedestrian connection to the existing childcare center.
Approved 70-74 Winter Street's variance for adaptive reuse of a historic building into 77 residential units and three commercial storefronts, with conditions addressing parking, access separation, screening, and coordination with additional review bodies.
Approved 73 Wall Street's rear-yard setback variances for construction of a single-family semi-detached dwelling on a vacant lot.
Postponed the 26 Milton Street and 28 Milton Street public hearings to December 29, with constructive grant deadlines extended to January 13.

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