The Marion Zoning Board of Appeals met on March 12 for their first meeting following last month’s blizzard. The board kicked off with Chair Cindy Callow reading the application by Sarah Martin Banse of 90 Main Street and beginning the Public Hearing for a Special Permit for an addition to a current non-conforming garage to be converted into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
Banse was present who explained the space was not originally built with that intent in mind, though they would now like to use it for the owner’s sister. They explained there was already enough parking on-property for the additional living space. There would be an extra 500 square-feet added to the usable space, meaning a Special Permit is required due to the increase in non-conformity.
The hearing was closed and the permit for 90 Main Street was granted with a unanimous vote of approval.
Next, it was explained the hearing for Angus Leary of 19 Lewis Street was again tabled. “We have been talking it for quite some time,” Chair Callow said. The chair then read the board’s statement regarding the frequent delays to their hearings for the property, saying, “Mr. Leary has been notified via email that this case will be picked up by the board this week. His lack of reply can result in the board denying his appeal and closing the case.”
Members discussed processes used to contact the owner, such as call, email, and a certified letter, though no reply has been received. Chair Callow moved to close the hearing, meaning if the owner would like to go forward, they need to reapply. It was closed with a unanimous vote of approval.
Following the approval of minutes from the board’s January 11 meeting, they began discussion on new people-of-interest to fill the vacant Alternate Member slots for the board. Joan Gardener, the current Alternate Member, confirmed interest in being elevated to full Member, though there was not an official quorum for this action so it would have to wait.
Dina Nichols was one of the two applicants invited by the chair to see direct boar functions. She has been a resident of the town for a little over two years. Before that, she had lived in Shrewsbury where she explained she had been active in town. As a realtor, she believed the best way to service Marion would be in the dealing with zoning and property management.
The next applicant was Anne Morgan who also arrived in town about 2 years ago, this time from Grafton. Morgan explained she and her husband grew up along the shore and moved to town seeking it back out. Coming from Martha’s Vineyard, she said she had exclaimed, “this is like Edgartown without the traffic!” She stated she had been a professional planner for 40 years, serving multiple municipalities across the Greater Boston Area.
The board approved of and endorsed the two applicants which then is moved to the Select Board for them to give the final approval and appointment.
The next meeting of the Marion Zoning Board of Approval is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 pm in the Marion Police Station.
Marion Zoning Board of Appeals
By Sam Bishop