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Zoning Board of Appeals

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About

The Board (often called the ZBA) acts in a quasi-judicial capacity on:

  • the issuance of certain special permit applications
  • petitions for variances from the requirements of the Groton Zoning Bylaw
  • appeals from the acts of the Building Inspector, or from the failure of the Building Inspector to act in response to a complaint from a citizen

The Board also has jurisdiction to act on applications for comprehensive permits for subsidized housing, in which it coordinates review of all other local boards except the Conservation Commission. The Board has power to receive testimony under oath. Most decisions of the ZBA may be appealed by an aggrieved to the District, Superior, or Land Court.

The first members to the ZBA were appointed in 1950.

 


 

Comprehensive Permits (Chapter 40B)

 

Heritage Landing (Cow Pond Brook Road)

On January 20, 2022, the Groton Select Board received a letter from MassHousing regarding a Project Eligibility application for construction of approximately 40 housing units on Cow Pond Brook (Parcel 248-42).

In accordance with Chapter 40B, the applicant is proposing 30 units at Market Value and 10 units of AMI 80% Affordable. All units will be ownership.

MassHousing issued a Project Eligibility Letter to the applicant on July 5, 2022. The applicant has two (2) years from the date of the project eligibility letter to submit a Comprehensive Permit application to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Comments

The link below is a special Heritage Landing website from which residents can view plans and specification sheets.

https://www.heritagelandinggroton.com


 

Groton Farms (500 Main Street)

On June 29, 2022, the Groton Select Board received a letter from MassHousing regarding a Project Eligibility application for construction of approximately 200 housing units at 500 Main Street (Parcel 216-95).  In accordance with Chapter 40B, the applicant is proposing 150 units at Market Value and 50 units of AMI 80% Affordable. All units will be rentals.

On September 15, 2022, MassHousing issued a Project Eligibility Letter to the applicant. The applicant has two (2) years from the date of the project eligibility letter to submit a Comprehensive Permit application to the Zoning Board of Appeals. 

On F-ebruary 23, 2023, the applicant filed a comprehensive permit application with the Zoning Board of Appeals. 

All pre filing documents may be found in the folder below.

The electronic versions of the documents can be accessed and viewed with the links below.

A paper copy of the documents can be accessed and viewed at Groton Town Hall.

 

Presentation

Cover Letter & Application

Exhibit One – Preliminary Development Plans

Exhibit Two – Existing Site Conditions

Exhibit Three – Preliminary Architectural Plans

Exhibit Four – Preliminary Subdivision Plan

Exhibit Five – Jurisdictional Requirements

Exhibit Six – Waivers

Exhibit Seven – Financial or Ownership Interest

Exhibit Eight – Affordable or Residential Experience

Exhibit Nine – Abutters List

Exhibit Ten – Stormwater

Exhibit Eleven – Traffic Impact Analysis

Exhibit Twelve – Environmental Analysis

Comments


 

Contact Information

Email: zba@grotonma.gov
Phone: (978) 448-1109
Website: www.grotonma.gov
Members: 9
Selection: Appointed
Term In Years: 3
Remuneration: None

Members

Bruce Easom
Bruce Easom
Chair
Term Start: 2022-07-01
Term End: 2025-06-30
Daniel McLaughlin
Daniel McLaughlin
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2026-06-30
Gregg Baker
Gregg Baker
Term Start: 2024-07-01
Term End: 2025-06-30
Jay Prager
Jay Prager
Term Start: 2022-07-01
Term End: 2025-06-30
John, "Jack" G. Petropoulos
John, “Jack” G. Petropoulos
Term Start: 2024-07-01
Term End: 2027-06-30
Leonard Green
Leonard Green
Term Start: 2024-07-01
Term End: 2025-06-30
Tom Peisel
Tom Peisel
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2026-06-30
Veronica O
Veronica O’Donnell
Term Start: 2024-07-01
Term End: 2025-06-30

Zoning Board of Appeals Documents

    1. Prior_Affordable_Housing_Experience_03-16-2023.pdf
    2. Cover_Letter_500_Main_Street_2023-2-21.pdf
    3. 500_MG_LLC_Financial_-_Ownership_Interests.pdf
    4. 500_Main_Traffic_Impact_Analysis_Appendix_2022-12-9.pdf
    5. 500_Main_Traffic_Impact_Analysis_2022-12-9.pdf
    6. 500_Main_Street_Renderings.pdf
    7. 500_Main_Street_-_ZBA_Presentation_Open_Hearing_2023-03-22.pdf
    8. 500_Main_Street_-_The_Groton_Farms_-_ZBA_40B_Application_2023-2-23.pdf
    9. 500_Main_St_Certified_Abutters_List.pdf
    10. 500_Main_Groton_Phase_I_Report_2021-7-8.pdf
    11. 500_Main_-Stormwater_Report_2023-2-10.pdf
    12. 500_Main_-PRE-DEV_2023-2-10.pdf
    13. 500_Main_-POST-DEV_2023-2-10.pdf
    14. 2023-5-10_Groton_ZBA__Traffic.pdf
    15. 2023-2-9_500_Main_Street_Subdivision_Plan.pdf
    16. 2023-2-9_500_Main_Street_Landscape_and_Lighting_Set.pdf
    17. 2023-2-9_500_Main_Street_Civil_Plan_Set.pdf
    18. 2023-2-22_Waivers_500_Main_Street.pdf
    19. 2023-2-14_500_Main_Existing_Conditions.pdf
    20. 2023-2-1_500_Main_Street_Architectural_Submission_-_ZBA.pdf
    21. 2023-05-17-6842-AUTOTURN-SU30.pdf
    22. 2023-05-17-6842-AUTOTURN-FIRE_APPARATUS.pdf
    23. 2023-04-19_ZBA_Presentation_Arch_and_Land_Arch.pdf
    24. 2022-9-15_500_Main_Street_Groton_Final_PEL.pdf
    25. 2021-9-9_500_Main_Street_Deed_-_All_parcels.pdf
    26. 13346.25-LT-RV-SW-2023-05-31.pdf
    27. 13346.25-LT-RV-COMPREHENSIVE_PLAN-2023-05-23.pdf
    28. 05-17-2023_ZBA_Civil_Presentation.pdf
    1. Town-Comment-Request-letter-Groton-Farms-Groton.pdf
    2. GrotonFarms-All-Comments-Aug2_2022.pdf
    3. Groton-Farms-Project-Eligibility-Letter-Sept15_2022.pdf
    4. Groton-Farms-MassHousing-Site-Eiligibility-Application-Single-File-All-Attachments.pdf
    1. PROOF5.V2.freestanding.9.26.23-02.pdf
    2. Phil_Francisco.pdf
    3. Muehlke_Questions_on_Dillis_&_Roy_Letter_from_7-21-2023.pdf
    4. Memo_to_ZBA-Groton_Farms_2023-09-06.docx.pdf
    5. Memo_to_ZBA_2023-03-22.pdf
    6. Letter_to_ZBA_-_follow-up_on_Groton_Farms_items.pdf
    7. Letter_on_Groton_Farms_Development.docx
    8. L4_Light_Images,_Schedule_and_Elevation.pdf
    9. Karyn_Franzek.pdf
    10. Heather_Taoultsides.pdf
    11. Groton_ZBA_062023_F.pdf
    12. Groton_Farms_ZBA_Comments_2023-05-17.pdf
    13. Groton_Farms_Comprehensive_Permit_SIGNED_Final_Decision.pdf
    14. Groton_Farms_Comments_2023-04-19.pdf
    15. Groton_Farms_-_Water_Department.pdf
    16. Groton_Electric.pdf
    17. Ginger_Vollmar.pdf
    18. Fire_Department.pdf
    19. Figure_1_CIP_6-19-2023.pdf
    20. Deanna_DeVito.pdf
    21. Common_Boundry_Line_Agreenment_(500_Main_St_&_126_Nod_Rd,_125_Common_St).pdf
    22. Board_of_Health.pdf
    23. Bayside_Response_to_MDM_Peer_Review.pdf
    24. B_of_A_re_500_Main_Street_06_28_23.pdf
    25. 6842-UTILITY_PRESENTATION_PLAN.pdf
    26. 6842-Stormwater_Report_REV1.pdf
    27. 6842-Site_Plans_061623.pdf
    28. 6842-ltr-ZBA-080723_(Stormwater).pdf
    29. 6842-ltr-ZBA-072123_(Sewer_Comments).pdf
    30. 6842-ltr-ZBA-072123_(Offsite_Drainage).pdf
    31. 6842-Cut&Fill_Exhibit_061523.pdf
    32. 6842-_ZBA_Plan_Revisions_Memo_061623.pdf
    33. 6842-_Peer_review_response_ltr_061623.pdf
    34. 500_Main_Street_Waiver_Requests_as_of_7.13.2023.pdf
    35. 500_Main_Street_40B.pdf
    36. 500_Main_St_Resident_Comment.pdf
    37. 20230502_Letter_to_Zoning_Board_of_Appeals.pdf
    38. 2023-8-9_Groton_Farms_Outstanding_Items.pdf
    39. 2023-8-4_Groton_-_Response_letter_to_request_for_multiple_trash_locations.pdf
    40. 2023-7-19_Sustainability_Followup_Letter_(solar)_response.pdf
    41. 2023-5-2_Invasive_Species_Letter_Response_2023-6-5.pdf
    42. 2023-5-17_Sustainability_Commission_Response_2023-6-5_.pdf
    43. 2023-09-21_ZBA_Letter.pdf
    44. 2023-09-15_The_Groton_Farms_Monument_Sign.pdf
    45. 2023-09-15_Groton_Comprehensive_Permit_Decision_CJA.docx
    46. 2023-06-07_SW_Comments_to_ZBA_-_Groton_Farms.pdf
    47. 2023-06-07_Memo_to_ZBA_-_Groton_Farm.pdf
    48. 2023-05-17_500_Main_St_Site_Plan.pdf
    49. 2023-03-22_Commission_on_Accessibility_MDA_Responses_04052023.pdf
    50. 1281_LT02.pdf
    51. 1281_LT01.pdf
    1. Heritage_Landing_-_Town_Comments_Request_Letter_2022-01-20.pdf
    2. Heritage_Landing_-_Project_Eligibility_Letter_2022-07-05.pdf
    3. Heritage_Landing_-_Groton_Comments_2022-03-24.pdf
    4. Heritage_Landing_-_Comprehensive_Permit_Application_2023-05-17.pdf
    5. Heritage_Landing_-_40B_Revised_Application_2022-02-02.pdf
    6. Aerial Views – Rolling.pdf
    1. Water_Line_Extension_Plan_Sketch_on_Record_Plans_05042023.pdf
    2. Water_Extension_overview.pdf
    3. Waiver_Request_2023-11-30.pdf
    4. to_ZBA_timing_of_construction.pdf
    5. To_ZBA_RE_V_O_Donnell.pdf
    6. SchoolBusServiceProposal.pdf
    7. Sarlan_Questions.pdf
    8. Response_to_Nitsch_letter_of_02-09-2024.pdf
    9. Public_Comment_Letter_-_Pistorino.pdf
    10. PB_letter_re_Heritage_Landing_5-8-2024.pdf
    11. NDS_-_SOIL_TESTS_Layout1.pdf
    12. Mitigating_Condition_Table.pdf
    13. MIT-CommentsonDraft40B.pdf
    14. MIT_Groton_ZBA_Presentation_re_Heritage_Landing_Aug_2023.pdf
    15. MIT_Follow_Up.pdf
    16. Memo_to_ZBA_-_Heritage_Landing_2024-05-07.pdf
    17. Memo_to_ZBA_-_Heritage_Landing_2023-06-13.pdf
    18. Memo_-_Water_Depatment.pdf
    19. may_8_2024_to_ZBA_re_PB_letter.pdf
    20. March_26_2024_Heritage_Landing_to_ZBA_undated_Waiver_Requests.pdf
    21. Letter_to_Board_of_Appeals_re_Water__Septic_JAB_10172023.pdf
    22. Letter_Fencing-gpd.pdf
    23. JonBarleyCornComments.pdf
    24. jan_10_to_ZBA_with_revised_plan.pdf
    25. J_Frazier_Abutter_Comment.pdf
    26. Heritage_Landing_ZBA_Aug_8.pdf
    27. Heritage_Landing_Signed_Extension.pdf
    28. Heritage_Landing_Rev._1-3-2024.pdf
    29. Heritage_Landing_Rev_1_-_28_Units_-_Open_Space_Exhibit_2023-11-27.pdf
    30. Heritage_Landing_Resident_Comment_-_Riemer.pdf
    31. Heritage_Landing_Plan_Set_Rev._1-30-2024.pdf
    32. Heritage_Landing_FINAL_Decision.pdf
    33. Heritage_Landing_Extension_5-08-2024.pdf
    34. HERITAGE_LANDING_DRAFT_DECISION_REDLINE_MAY_16_2024.pdf
    35. Heritage_Landing_Draft_Decision_2024-05-08.pdf
    36. Heritage_Landing_Draft_CONDITIONS_AND_WAIVERS_2024-06-05.pdf
    37. Heritage_Landing_-_ROW_Photometrics-Final_2024-04-30.pdf
    38. Heritage_Landing_-_Fire_Turning_Template_Rev2.pdf
    39. Heritage_Landing_-_Alphen’s_Answers.pdf
    40. Groton_ZBA_re_MIT_2023-11-28.pdf
    41. Groton_Turtle_Conservation.pdf
    42. Feb_5_waiver_requests.pdf
    43. Feb_2_to_ZBA_re_roadway_ease.pdf
    44. FD_&_Response.pdf
    45. DRAFT_HERITAGE_LANDING_DECISION_marked_up_May_3.pdf
    46. DRAFT_HERITAGE_LANDING_DECISION_marked_up_May_1v2.pdf
    47. DRAFT_HERITAGE_LANDING_DECISION_04-11-2024.pdf
    48. Dec_8_to_ZBA_re_MIT_corresp.pdf
    49. DarcyDonald.pdf
    50. CowPond_40B-PlanSet-28_Units-Rev4.pdf
    51. CowPond_40B-28_Units-Rev3_COLOR_(002).pdf
    52. Cow_Pond_Brook_Road_Soil_Testing_-_Percs_(5_pp-10_tests).pdf
    53. Cow_Pond_Brook_Road_Soil_Testing_-_Deeps_(29_pp-14_tests).pdf
    54. Cow_Pond_Brook_Rd_-_Resident_Comment.pdf
    55. BOH_Agent_Comments_to_Waivers_Heritage_Landing.pdf
    56. Anne_Riemer_Resident_Comment.pdf
    57. Anna_Eliot.pdf
    58. Agreement_to_Extend_Close_of_Public_Hearing_4.11.2024.pdf
    59. AerialViewShootingRange-gpd.pdf
    60. Aerial_of_Development-gpd.pdf
    61. 2944_Heritage_Landing_Preliminary_Stormwater_Report.pdf
    62. 2024-05-23_Alpen_Santos_Draft_Decision_Applicant_Input.pdf
    63. 2024-05-19_Public_Comment_on_Heritage_Landing_Proposed_Development.pdf
    64. 2024-05-18_Bus_Turn_Around.pdf
    65. 2024-05-13-Heritage_Landing-Lighting_PLAN.pdf
    66. 2024-04-11-Heritage_Landing-Lighting_ROW-LoRes.pdf
    67. 2023-11-28_to_zba_re_plan_changes_and_septic.pdf
    68. 2023-09-21_Extension_Request.pdf
    69. 2023-09-20_Letter_to_ZBA_-_Heritage_Landing.pdf
    70. 2023-08-23Nancy_Sarlan.pdf
    71. 2023-08-21_Heritage_Landing_Extension_Req_and_Agree.pdf
    72. 2023-08-21_Heritage_Landing_Conditions_of_App.pdf
    73. 1661_20240207_M_Response_to_Comments_w_Attch.pdf
    74. 1661_20240112_TIAS_w_Appendix.pdf
    75. 1661_20230808_M_TIAS_Scope_(002).pdf
    76. 13346.27-LT-RV-SW-2023-03-20.pdf
    77. 13346.27-LT-RV-CP-2023-09-20.pdf
    78. 13346.27-LT-RV-3-CP-2024-03-19.pdf
    79. 13346.27-LT-RV-2023-11-07.pdf
    80. 13346.27-LT-RV-2-CP-2024-01-24.pdf
    81. 13346.27-LT-CP_Conditions-2024-04-08.pdf
    82. 1303_LT01.pdf
    83. 00-Heritage_Landing_PRESENTATION_PLAN_SET_FOR_MEETING_-_Rolling_Civil,_Landscape,_Arch.pdf
    1. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-09-18_id-15566.docx
    2. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-09-04_id-15510.docx
    3. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-08-21_id-15499.docx
    4. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-08-14_id-15453.docx
    5. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-07-17_id-15424.docx
    6. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-06-27_id-15383.docx
    7. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-06-20_id-15316.docx
    8. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-05-23_id-15213.docx
    9. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-05-08_id-15169.docx
    10. Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2024-05-06_id-15168.docx
    11. Access additional meeting minutes and agendas at the Meeting Center
  1. ZBA_Application_2022.pdf
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