TOWN OF GROTON Zoning Board of Appeals - PERMIT APPLICATION PROCEDURES
[Pursuant to Chapter 53 of Acts of 2020]
On Friday, April 3, 2020, Governor Baker
signed into law Chapter 53 of the Acts of 2020, An Act to Address Challenges
Faced by Municipalities and State Authorities Resulting from COVID -.
Section 17 of the Act modifies state and local laws governing the submission
and process of permit applications for the duration of the State of Emergency
declared by Governor Baker on March 10, 2020.
The Town of Groton is implementing
Chapter 53, Section 17 as follows. Portions of the Act are summarized below.
Please see referenced sections for complete text.
§17(a) Definitions
"Permit": a permit, variance,
special permit, license, amendment, extension, or other approval issued by a
permit granting authority pursuant to a statute, ordinance, bylaw, rule or regulation,
whether ministerial or discretionary.
''Permit granting authority'' (or
“PGA”), a local, district, county or regional official or a local, district, county
or regional multi-member body that is authorized to issue a permit.
PERMIT APPLICATIONS §17(b)(i) –
For so long as the State of Emergency remains in effect, the Act governs the
submission of permit applications. Permit applications may be filed as set
forth below (if the applicable permit granting authority is not listed in the
chart below, please submit to the Town Clerk and it will be forwarded):
“An application for a permit shall be
deemed duly filed and accepted as of the date of the filing by the applicant if
filed with and certified as received by the town clerk.” Applications to Permit
Granting Authorities may be filed either:
1.
By
first class mail: Application to the Town of Groton Town Clerk, 173 Main St.,
Groton, MA 01450, and copy of Application and all submission materials,
including application fee, to the appropriate permit granting authority. Please
send an email alerting the PGA that an application has been mailed to both the
Town Clerk and the Zoning Assistant.
2.
Electronically:
Attachment of the requisite application form and supplemental materials by
email to the Town Clerk with “cc” to the appropriate permit granting
authority and receipt by first class mail of a check for the applicable
application fee. Online payment is not available at this time.
BOARD ELECTRONIC FILING:
townclerk@grotonma.gov
with cc to: kcruikshank@grotonma.gov
HARD COPIES:
Town of Groton Town Clerk
173 Main St.
Groton, MA 01450
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.
- Heritage Landing – Town Comments Request Letter 2022-01-20
- Heritage Landing – 40B Revised Application 2022-02-02
- Heritage Landing – Groton Comments 2022-03-24
- Heritage Landing – Project Eligibility Letter 2022-07-05
- Heritage Landing – Comprehensive Permit Application 2023-05-17
- Heritage Landing – Rolling Civil Landscape Arch
- Heritage Landing – Aerial Views – Rolling
Comments
- Alphen’s Answers
- FD Response
- Memo – Water Department
- Memo to ZBA 2023-06-13
- Groton Turtle Conservation
- Resident Comments
- Sarlan Questions
- To ZBA Re V O Donnell
- Anna Eliot
- J Frazier Abutter Comments
- Timing of Construction – Alphen and Santos
- Cow Pond Brook Road Soil Testing – Deeps 29 pp – 14 Tests
- Cow Pond Brook Road Soil Testing – Percs 5 pp – 10 Tests
- NDS Soil Tests Layout 1
- To ZBA – Alphen and Santos
- 2023-08-08 1661 M Tias Scope 002
- 2023-08-09 MIT Groton ZBA Presentation
- 2023-08-21 Heritage Landing Extension Request and Agree
- 2023-08-21 Heritage Landing Conditions of Application
- 2023-08-23 Nancy Sarlan
- 2023-09-20 Letter to ZBA
- 2023-09-20 Nitsch Engineering First Peer Review Letter
- 2023-09-21 Extension Request
- Town Counsel Response
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 February 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
- 03-22-2023 ZBA Open Hearing Presentation
- 04-19-2023 ZBA Presentation Arch and Land Arch
- 05-10-2023 ZBA Groton Traffic
- 05-17-2023 ZBA Civil Presentation
Cover Letter & Application
- 500 Main Street – Cover Letter 2023-02-21
- 500 Main Street – The Groton Farms – ZBA 40B Application 2023-02-23
- 2023-05-17 6842 Autoturn SU30
- 2023-05-17 6842 Autoturn Fire Apparatus
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
- 500 Main Street – Post Dev 2023-02-10
- 500 Main Street – Pre Dev 2023-02-10
- 500 Main Street – Stormwater Report 2023-02-10
Exhibit Eleven – Traffic Impact Analysis
- 500 Main Street – Traffic Impact Analysis 2022-12-09
- 500 Main Street – Traffic Impact Analysis Appendix 2022-12-09
Exhibit Twelve – Environmental Analysis
Comments
- 500 Main Street 40B
- 1281 LT01
- 1281 LT02
- Letter on Groton Farms Development
- Letter to ZBA – Follow Up on Groton Farms Items
- Board of Health
- Bayside Response to MDM Peer Review
- Deanna DeVito
- Fire Department
- Water Department
- Groton Electric
- Ginger Vollmar
- Heather Taoultsides
- Karyn Franzek
- Phil Francisco
- Resident Comments
- L4 Light Images, Schedule, and Elevation
- 6842 Utility Presentation Plan
- 6842 Site Plans 2023-06-16
- 6842 Stormwater Report REV1
- 6842 Peer Review Response Letter 2023-06-16
- 6842 ZBA Plan Revisions Memo 2023-06-16
- 6842 Cut & Fill Exhibit 2023-06-15
- 6842 ZBA Offsite Drainage
- 6842 ZBA Sewer Comments
- 6842 ZBA Stormwater Comments
- 2023-03-22 Commission on Accessibility MDA Responses 2023-04-05
- 2023-03-22 Memo to ZBA
- 2023-04-19 Groton Farms Comments
- 2023-05-02 Letter to Zoning Board of Appeals
- 2023-05-02 Invasive Species Response 2023-06-05
- 2023-05-17 Groton Farms ZBA Comments
- 2023-05-17 500 Main Street Site Plan
- 2023-05-17 Sustainability Commission Response 2023-06-05
- 2023-05-23 Nitsch Engineering Comprehensive Plan
- 2023-05-31 Nitsch Engineering Letter
- 2023-06-07 Memo to ZBA
- 2023-06-07 SW Comments to ZBA
- 2023-06-19 Figure 1 CIP
- 2023-06-20 Groton ZBA F
- 2023-06-28 B of A re 500 Main Street
- 2023-07-13 Main Street Waiver Requests
- 2023-07-19 Sustainability Follow up Letter Solar Response
- 2023-07-21 Muehlke Questions on Dillis & Roy Letter
- 2023-08-04 Response Letter to Request for Multiple Trash Locations
- 2023-08-09 Groton Farms Outstanding Items
- 2023-09-06 Memo to ZBA
- 2023-09-15 Groton Comprehensive Permit Decision DRAFT
- 2023-09-15 Monument Sign DRAFT
- 2023-09-21 ZBA Letter
Contact Information
Selection: Appointed
Term In Years: 3
Remuneration: None
Members
Bruce Easom
Chair
Term Start: 2022-07-01
Term End: 2025-06-30
Daniel McLaughlin
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2026-06-30
Jay Prager
Term Start: 2022-07-01
Term End: 2025-06-30
John, “Jack” G. Petropoulos
Vice Chair
Term Start: 2021-07-01
Term End: 2024-06-30
Krzysztof Jezak
Term Start: 2022-07-01
Term End: 2025-06-30
Tom Peisel
Term Start: 2023-07-01
Term End: 2026-06-30
Veronica O’Donnell
Associate Member
Term Start: 2023-05-23
Term End: 2024-06-30
Zoning Board of Appeals Documents
-
- Prior_Affordable_Housing_Experience_03-16-2023.pdf
- Cover_Letter_500_Main_Street_2023-2-21.pdf
- 500_MG_LLC_Financial_-_Ownership_Interests.pdf
- 500_Main_Traffic_Impact_Analysis_Appendix_2022-12-9.pdf
- 500_Main_Traffic_Impact_Analysis_2022-12-9.pdf
- 500_Main_Street_Renderings.pdf
- 500_Main_Street_-_ZBA_Presentation_Open_Hearing_2023-03-22.pdf
- 500_Main_Street_-_The_Groton_Farms_-_ZBA_40B_Application_2023-2-23.pdf
- 500_Main_St_Certified_Abutters_List.pdf
- 500_Main_Groton_Phase_I_Report_2021-7-8.pdf
- 500_Main_-Stormwater_Report_2023-2-10.pdf
- 500_Main_-PRE-DEV_2023-2-10.pdf
- 500_Main_-POST-DEV_2023-2-10.pdf
- 2023-5-10_Groton_ZBA__Traffic.pdf
- 2023-2-9_500_Main_Street_Subdivision_Plan.pdf
- 2023-2-9_500_Main_Street_Landscape_and_Lighting_Set.pdf
- 2023-2-9_500_Main_Street_Civil_Plan_Set.pdf
- 2023-2-22_Waivers_500_Main_Street.pdf
- 2023-2-14_500_Main_Existing_Conditions.pdf
- 2023-2-1_500_Main_Street_Architectural_Submission_-_ZBA.pdf
- 2023-05-17-6842-AUTOTURN-SU30.pdf
- 2023-05-17-6842-AUTOTURN-FIRE_APPARATUS.pdf
- 2023-04-19_ZBA_Presentation_Arch_and_Land_Arch.pdf
- 2022-9-15_500_Main_Street_Groton_Final_PEL.pdf
- 2021-9-9_500_Main_Street_Deed_-_All_parcels.pdf
- 13346.25-LT-RV-SW-2023-05-31.pdf
- 13346.25-LT-RV-COMPREHENSIVE_PLAN-2023-05-23.pdf
- 05-17-2023_ZBA_Civil_Presentation.pdf
-
- Phil_Francisco.pdf
- Muehlke_Questions_on_Dillis_&_Roy_Letter_from_7-21-2023.pdf
- Memo_to_ZBA-Groton_Farms_2023-09-06.docx.pdf
- Memo_to_ZBA_2023-03-22.pdf
- Letter_to_ZBA_-_follow-up_on_Groton_Farms_items.pdf
- Letter_on_Groton_Farms_Development.docx
- L4_Light_Images,_Schedule_and_Elevation.pdf
- Karyn_Franzek.pdf
- Heather_Taoultsides.pdf
- Groton_ZBA_062023_F.pdf
- Groton_Farms_ZBA_Comments_2023-05-17.pdf
- Groton_Farms_Comments_2023-04-19.pdf
- Groton_Farms_-_Water_Department.pdf
- Groton_Electric.pdf
- Ginger_Vollmar.pdf
- Fire_Department.pdf
- Figure_1_CIP_6-19-2023.pdf
- Deanna_DeVito.pdf
- Board_of_Health.pdf
- Bayside_Response_to_MDM_Peer_Review.pdf
- B_of_A_re_500_Main_Street_06_28_23.pdf
- 6842-UTILITY_PRESENTATION_PLAN.pdf
- 6842-Stormwater_Report_REV1.pdf
- 6842-Site_Plans_061623.pdf
- 6842-ltr-ZBA-080723_(Stormwater).pdf
- 6842-ltr-ZBA-072123_(Sewer_Comments).pdf
- 6842-ltr-ZBA-072123_(Offsite_Drainage).pdf
- 6842-Cut&Fill_Exhibit_061523.pdf
- 6842-_ZBA_Plan_Revisions_Memo_061623.pdf
- 6842-_Peer_review_response_ltr_061623.pdf
- 500_Main_Street_Waiver_Requests_as_of_7.13.2023.pdf
- 500_Main_Street_40B.pdf
- 500_Main_St_Resident_Comment.pdf
- 20230502_Letter_to_Zoning_Board_of_Appeals.pdf
- 2023-8-9_Groton_Farms_Outstanding_Items.pdf
- 2023-8-4_Groton_-_Response_letter_to_request_for_multiple_trash_locations.pdf
- 2023-7-19_Sustainability_Followup_Letter_(solar)_response.pdf
- 2023-5-2_Invasive_Species_Letter_Response_2023-6-5.pdf
- 2023-5-17_Sustainability_Commission_Response_2023-6-5_.pdf
- 2023-09-21_ZBA_Letter.pdf
- 2023-09-15_The_Groton_Farms_Monument_Sign.pdf
- 2023-09-15_Groton_Comprehensive_Permit_Decision_CJA.docx
- 2023-06-07_SW_Comments_to_ZBA_-_Groton_Farms.pdf
- 2023-06-07_Memo_to_ZBA_-_Groton_Farm.pdf
- 2023-05-17_500_Main_St_Site_Plan.pdf
- 2023-03-22_Commission_on_Accessibility_MDA_Responses_04052023.pdf
- 1281_LT02.pdf
- 1281_LT01.pdf
-
- Heritage_Landing_-_Town_Comments_Request_Letter_2022-01-20.pdf
- Heritage_Landing_-_Project_Eligibility_Letter_2022-07-05.pdf
- Heritage_Landing_-_Groton_Comments_2022-03-24.pdf
- Heritage_Landing_-_Comprehensive_Permit_Application_2023-05-17.pdf
- Heritage_Landing_-_40B_Revised_Application_2022-02-02.pdf
- Aerial Views – Rolling.pdf
-
- Town_Counsel_Response.pdf
- to_ZBA_timing_of_construction.pdf
- To_ZBA_RE_V_O_Donnell.pdf
- Sarlan_Questions.pdf
- NDS_-_SOIL_TESTS_Layout1.pdf
- MIT_Groton_ZBA_Presentation_re_Heritage_Landing_Aug_2023.pdf
- Memo_to_ZBA_-_Heritage_Landing_2023-06-13.pdf
- Memo_-_Water_Depatment.pdf
- J_Frazier_Abutter_Comment.pdf
- Heritage_Landing_ZBA_Aug_8.pdf
- Heritage_Landing_-_Alphen’s_Answers.pdf
- Groton_Turtle_Conservation.pdf
- FD_&_Response.pdf
- Cow_Pond_Brook_Road_Soil_Testing_-_Percs_(5_pp-10_tests).pdf
- Cow_Pond_Brook_Road_Soil_Testing_-_Deeps_(29_pp-14_tests).pdf
- Cow_Pond_Brook_Rd_-_Resident_Comment.pdf
- Anna_Eliot.pdf
- 2023-09-21_Extension_Request.pdf
- 2023-09-20_Letter_to_ZBA_-_Heritage_Landing.pdf
- 2023-08-23Nancy_Sarlan.pdf
- 2023-08-21_Heritage_Landing_Extension_Req_and_Agree.pdf
- 2023-08-21_Heritage_Landing_Conditions_of_App.pdf
- 1661_20230808_M_TIAS_Scope_(002).pdf
- 13346.27-LT-RV-CP-2023-09-20.pdf
- 00-Heritage_Landing_PRESENTATION_PLAN_SET_FOR_MEETING_-_Rolling_Civil,_Landscape,_Arch.pdf
-
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-09-06_id-14316.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-08-30_id-14279.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-08-23_id-14315.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-08-16_id-14314.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-08-09_id-14256.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-07-26_id-14206.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-06-28_id-14155.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-06-14_id-14115.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-06-07_id-14114.docx
- Zoning_Board_of_Appeals_approved_minutes_2023-05-17_id-14087.docx
- Access additional meeting minutes and agendas at the Meeting Center
- ZBA_Application_2022.pdf