Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals 07-15-2026

• Governing Body: Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)
• Meeting Date: July 15, 2026
• Meeting Type: Remote Participation (pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025)
• Voting Members Present: Anne Brockelman (Acting Chair), Zach Zaremba, Olivia Mobayed (Clerk), Brian Cook, Sisia Daglian
• Staff Present: Kit Luster (Acting Clerk), Alvaro Esparza

The Board reviewed the minutes from the meeting held on June 3, 2026.

• Motion: Brian Cook moved to approve the minutes for the June 3, 2026, Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
• Second: Sisia Daglian.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 5-0 (Unanimous).
• Roll Call: Brian Cook (Aye), Olivia Mobayed (Aye), Zach Zaremba (Aye), Sisia Daglian (Aye), Anne Brockelman (Aye).

The applicant, Nelson Group Construction Corp, represented by Adam Dash, sought two hardship variances to facilitate the construction of a three-story, five-unit residential apartment building in the Mid-Rise 3 (MR3) zoning district.

Case CP26000018: Relief from SCO 417C to build a primary front facade of 74.7% where 80% is the minimum. Case ZP26000019: Relief from SCO 1036 AI regarding the required six-foot landscape buffer abutting a Neighborhood Residence (NR) zone.

• Key Discussion Points:
  • The lot is uniquely narrow for the MR3 zone, creating a hardship for compliant building types.
  • A 10-foot wide driveway is required for Eversource access to a rear transformer, which prevents meeting the 80% facade width and the landscape buffer simultaneously.
  • The project includes one affordable housing unit and five off-street parking spaces.
  • Attorney Adam Dash noted a recent change in state law (Chapter 40A) introducing a "practical difficulty" standard for variances, though the Board proceeded with the traditional three-criteria findings for due diligence.
• Public Comment: No members of the public spoke on this application.
• Official Action (CP26000018 - Facade): Approved 5-0 (Unanimous). Roll Call: Cook, Mobayed, Daglian, Zaremba, Brockelman (all Aye).
• Official Action (ZP26000019 - Landscape): Approved 5-0 (Unanimous). Roll Call: Cook, Mobayed, Daglian, Zaremba, Brockelman (all Aye).

The applicant, Selco Partnership DBA Verizon Wireless, sought a special permit to install a building-mounted wireless communication facility in the Urban Residence (UR) zoning district.

• Project Details:
  • Installation of three antenna sectors (Alpha, Beta, Gamma) within screen wall enclosures colored to match the existing building facade.
  • The enclosures will stand 10 feet above the roofline (total height 56' 7"), complying with SCO 1010.5 A1A.
  • The facility is located on a five-story residential building owned by the Somerville Housing Authority.
• Key Discussion Points:
  • The site was selected via a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Housing Authority.
  • Board members questioned the visual impact from Perkins Street; the applicant explained that moving antennas further from the edge would require increasing their height to maintain signal propagation, potentially violating other zoning limits.
  • Radio Frequency (RF) emissions were confirmed to comply with FCC standards, with physical barriers and signage planned for roof safety.
• Public Comment: No members of the public spoke on this application.
• Official Action: Brian Cook moved to approve the special permit under MGL Chapter 40A Section 6 and Somerville Zoning Ordinance sections 10.10.3 and 15.2.1.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 5-0 (Unanimous). Roll Call: Cook, Mobayed, Daglian, Zaremba, Brockelman (all Aye).