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Town Government & |
Departments: Zoning Board of Appeals
About Us The Board of Appeals holds public hearings on applications for zoning variances and special permits and decides appeals of administrative decisions of the Town's zoning officials. Zoning hearings are generally held on Thursday evenings in the Central Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 210 Central Street. Staff is available Monday through Thursday to assist you in the application process and to answer zoning questions.
The Board of Appeals has three regular members, appointed to 3-year terms, and seven associate members appointed to 1-year terms. The Board of Selectmen makes all appointments. 2006 was a very busy year for the Board. A total of fifty-eight applications were received, resulting in ninety-one hearings. The Board granted thirty-two residential Variances. Projects included new construction/additions/reconstruction to dwellings and garages, sheds, fences and conversion of garages to living space. The Board also approved a height Variance for the renovation and construction of an addition to the Central Fire Station on Main Street. Also approved were Variances for the building of 45 townhomes (including 5 affordable units) by Back River, LLC. This project was also granted Variances and Special Permits to redevelop the existing town athletic fields, including the construction of a new field house and associated appurtenances. Variances are authorizations to use land or structures in a manner that is otherwise prohibited by the Zoning By-Law. The Board heard applications on thirty-two Special Permit requests. Special Permits are authorizations to use land or structures for a specific use which is expressly permitted by the special permit, provided general guidelines as detailed in the By-Law and specific conditions arising from the review process itself are met. Special permits are designed as a flexible tool to assure that the use is in harmony with the intent and purposes of the By-Law. Among those approved were the construction of a new veterinary hospital for Old Derby Animal Clinic off of Recreation Park Drive, The Upper Crust pizzeria on South Street and the construction of a new DPW facility and Town outdoor athletic complex on land commonly referred to as School Tract IV, a portion of Bare Cove Park and School Tract I. The Board also approved numerous requests for signs, including Derby Shoppes South on Derby Street, Old Ship Church Parish Hall on Main Street and free standing Development and Directory signs as part of the mixed use re-development of the Hingham Shipyard. Appeals are reviews of the decisions or orders of zoning officials by the Board of Appeals. The Board may uphold, reverse or modify the official's decision. The Board heard two Appeals in 2006. Downing Street neighbors appealed the lack of enforcement action with regards to the 1987 zoning decision concerning the athletic fields at Hingham High School. This Appeal was granted. Abutters appealed the issuance of a building permit for the construction of a new dwelling on Howard Road. This Appeal was denied. In November longtime Planning Board member Tod McGrath resigned from the Planning Board and was appointed a regular member of the board, replacing Mario Romania, Jr., who was appointed an associate member. 2006 also saw the resignation of two long-time board members: Victor Baltera and James Broderick. The Board wishes to express it's gratitude to Mario, Victor and Jim for their professionalism and willingness to share their expertise during their many years of dedicated service to the town. The Board would like to express its thanks for the support, cooperation and assistance we have received from all Town departments during the past year. The Board also would encourage all interested citizens to attend its' hearings which are held on Thursday evenings at Town Hall. SUMMARY Applicants: 58
Jane Santosuosso, Zoning Administrator
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