Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals 08-05-2026

Meeting Details

• Governing Body: Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals
• Meeting Type: Public Hearing (Remote Participation)
• Date: August 05, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM

Attendees

• Board Members: Anne Brockelman (Acting Chair), Olivia Mobayed, Brian Cook (Acting Clerk), Zachary Zaremba.
• City Staff: Kit Luster, Alvaro Esparza, Lexi Payne, Kelly McLaughlin.
• Applicants/Representatives: Kendra Halliwell (ICON Architecture), Vita Sklovski (POA), Adam Dash (Attorney), Isamu Kanda (Ikonda Architects), Athanasios Doucis (Homeowner), Michael Chaucer (Avon Architecture), Brandon Ronsley (Homeowner).

Approval of Minutes

• Motion: To approve the minutes of the June 17, 2026, Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
• Vote Outcome: Motion passed (3-1).
  • Brian Cook: Aye
  • Olivia Mobayed: Nay
  • Zachary Zaremba: Yes
  • Anne Brockelman: Yes

Continuances

• 22 Park Avenue: The applicant requested a continuance to the August 19, 2026, ZBA meeting.
• 17 Monmouth Street (ZP 2600043): The applicant requested a continuance to the August 19, 2026, ZBA meeting.

Case Description

Kendra Halliwell of ICON Architecture presented minor modifications to the Phase 2 master plan for the Clarendon Hill 40B project. The board was tasked with determining if the changes were substantial or insubstantial.

Key Modifications and Waivers

• Phasing: Buildings A and B shifted to Phase 3.
• Site Layout: Building D added Head Start programming, requiring a play area shift. Community gardens were relocated to the corner of North Street Park.
• Woonerf Plaza: Shifted uphill to coordinate with grading and Building E access.
• Waivers Requested:
  1. Transformer Location: A waiver to allow an Eversource transformer in the frontage zone for Building D and the townhouses.
  2. Row House Configuration: A waiver to allow 11 row houses in a single sequence (exceeding the limit of 10).
• Parking: A reduction of two standard spaces to accommodate ADA parking and a trash/recycling enclosure.
• Trees: The applicant committed to maintaining the overall site tree caliper as per the original 40B approval.

Board Action

The board determined the modifications were insubstantial and moved to approve the new waivers.

• Motion: "I move to approve as insubstantial the 40B comprehensive permit waiver modifications and new waivers for 34 North Street, Clarendon Hill, based upon the conditions, findings and recommendations as discussed and found in the July 30th, 2026 staff memo."
• Vote Outcome: Approved 4-0 (Unanimous).
  • Roll Call: Brian Cook (Aye), Olivia Mobayed (Aye), Zachary Zaremba (Aye), Anne Brockelman (Aye).

Case Description

Attorney Adam Dash and architect Isamu Kanda presented a request for a Special Permit under MGL Chapter 40A, Section 6 to expand a nonconforming roofline at 88 Winslow Avenue.

Discussion Points

• Proposal: Expand the top floor living space by 104 square feet and change the roof from pitched to flat to improve access to an existing roof deck.
• Technical Change: While the building height remains the same, the change to a flat roof technically classifies the structure as four stories.
• Impact: Shadow studies indicated minimal impact. The change brings the roof type into conformity with the detached triple-decker building type.

Public Comment

• Claire Gerner: Asked a clarifying question regarding the status of 17 Monmouth Street.

Board Action

• Motion: To approve the special permit based on the findings for the required Section 6 criteria and the staff memo dated July 30, 2026.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 4-0 (Unanimous).
  • Roll Call: Brian Cook (Aye), Olivia Mobayed (Aye), Zachary Zaremba (Aye), Anne Brockelman (Aye).

Case Description

Athanasios Doucis sought a hardship variance from SZO Section 2.4.4 regarding the roof rafter intersection height for a half-story in the Neighborhood Residence (NR) district.

Discussion Points

• Hardship: The existing structure has an asymmetrical, off-centered rear addition. Literal enforcement would require an asymmetrical roof that is complex to frame or extensive demolition of bearing walls.
• Proposal: Raise the roof rafters on one side of the rear addition to intersect the wall plate at greater than two feet above the finished floor to create habitable headroom.

Public Comment

• Betsy Helfair (Neighbor): Inquired about the height on her side of the building. The applicant confirmed it would match the existing structure height.
• Walter Zahn (8 Carver Street): Spoke in favor, noting a similar change was approved for his home in 2006 and that shading impacts were negligible.

Board Action

• Motion: To approve the hardship variance based on the findings in the staff memo dated July 27, 2026.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 4-0 (Unanimous).
  • Roll Call: Brian Cook (Aye), Olivia Mobayed (Aye), Zachary Zaremba (Aye), Anne Brockelman (Aye).

Case Description

Brandon Ronsley requested a hardship variance to allow existing AC condensers to remain within 1.5 feet of the lot line, where 3 feet is required.

Discussion Points

• Context: The units were installed during 2019-2020 construction. The current owner discovered the non-compliance after purchasing the property, which had a forged Certificate of Occupancy from the previous developer.
• Hardship: Moving the units would require substantial financial investment and there is no other viable location on the lot. The units abut a shared right-of-way driveway, ensuring no future construction will impede them.

Public Comment

• Azalene Edwarzen (64 Moreland Street): Inquired about the impact on her property; the applicant clarified the units are several houses away.
• Support: The applicant provided letters of support from the owner and occupant of the abutting property at 72 Moreland Street.

Board Action

• Motion: To approve the hardship variance based on the findings in the staff memo dated July 31, 2026.
• Vote Outcome: Approved 4-0 (Unanimous).
  • Roll Call: Brian Cook (Aye), Olivia Mobayed (Aye), Zachary Zaremba (Aye), Anne Brockelman (Aye).