2026-08-10 - Zoning Board of Appeals

Summary

This summarizes the posted agenda for the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, not what happened; no minutes are posted yet. The agenda has seven hearings. 149 Plantation Street (about 48 units in two buildings) is again listed as old business. New hearings include a lot split for a duplex at 69 Orient Street, a large 232 Stafford Street proposal (about 150 attached units plus a 57-unit high-rise on current athletic fields), a drive-thru restaurant at 79 Pullman Street, and a 41-space non-accessory parking lot at 30 Lagrange Street. 6 Woburn Street returns with an added floor area ratio variance, and 27-29 and 31 Camp Street seeks an extension of time. The board is also to approve minutes of 5/18, 6/8, 6/29 and 7/20.

Source: posted PrimeGov agenda for the August 10, 2026 meeting; no minutes or transcript yet.

Issues discussed: 149 Plantation Street (ZB-2026-003), 69 Orient Street (ZB-2026-017), 6 Woburn Street (ZB-2026-041), 232 Stafford Street (ZB-2026-068), 79 Pullman Street (ZB-2026-073), 27-29 and 31 Camp Street (ZB-2026-074), 30 Lagrange Street (ZB-2026-076)

Agenda

Zoning Board of Appeals meeting agenda, Monday, August 10, 2026, 5:30 pm, Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber, 3rd Floor (Room 309), Worcester City Hall, 455 Main St. In person, with remote participation by Zoom (https://worcesterma.zoomgov.com/j/1604564634) or phone 1-669-254-5252, access code 160 456 4634. Written comments to planning@worcesterma.gov at least 48 hours ahead; interpretation requests 2 business days ahead (the posted agenda repeats this in several other languages, omitted here).

Board members: Jordan Berg Powers (Chair), Lawrence Abramoff (Vice Chair), George Cortes, Eric Torkornoo, Enxhi Muharremi; alternates Erik Bartenhagen, Matthew Sacco.

Call to Order - 5:30 pm

Requests for Continuances, Extensions, Postponements, & Withdrawals

Old Business - Public Hearings

1. 149 Plantation Street (ZB-2026-003) - 149 Plantation Street (ZB-2026-003)
   • Special Permit: low-rise multi-family dwelling use in the RL-7 zone (Art. IV, Sec. 2, Table 4.1, Residential Use #11)
   • Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces (Art. IV, Sec. 7.A.2)
   • Petitioner: Ram Hill Avenue Investments & Developments, LLC
   • Present use: Vacant wooded lot.
   • Zone: RL-7 (Residence, Limited)
   • Purpose: Construct two 3-story low-rise multi-family dwellings, each with about 24 units (about 48 total), an about 88-space parking facility, and associated site improvements.
   • Testimony dates: 3/16/2026, 4/27/2026. Constructive grant deadline: 9/01/2026.

New Business - Public Hearings

2. 69 Orient Street (ZB-2026-017) - 69 Orient Street (ZB-2026-017)

   • Variance: minimum lot area for a two-family dwelling in RG-5 (Art. IV, Sec. 4, Table 4.2)
   • Variance: minimum frontage for a two-family dwelling in RG-5
   • Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces (Art. IV, Sec. 7.A.2)
   • Petitioner: ML Realty Group, LLC
   • Present use: Two-family dwelling and associated parking.
   • Zone: RG-5 (Residence, General)
   • Purpose: Divide the property and build a single-family semi-detached dwelling (duplex) with each new unit on its own lot.
   • Public hearing deadline: 9/23/2026. Constructive grant deadline: 10/28/2026.

3. 6 Woburn Street (ZB-2026-041) - 6 Woburn Street (ZB-2026-041)

   • Variance: minimum side yard setback for a non-residential use in MG-0.5 (Art. IV, Sec. 4, Table 4.2)
   • Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces (Art. IV, Sec. 7.A.2)
   • Petitioner: Marcelo Barreto
   • Present use: Vacant lot with a small retaining wall.
   • Zone: MG-0.5 (Manufacturing, General)
   • Purpose: Construct an industrial building with associated parking and site improvements.
   • Public hearing deadline: 9/2/2026. Constructive grant deadline: 10/7/2026.
   • Note: The relief list now also includes a variance from the maximum floor area ratio (FAR) in MG-0.5 (Art. IV, Sec. 4, Table 4.2).

4. 232 Stafford Street (ZB-2026-068) - 232 Stafford Street (ZB-2026-068)

   • Variance: minimum frontage for a single-family attached dwelling in RG-5 (Art. IV, Sec. 4, Table 4.2)
   • Variance: maximum height for a single-family attached dwelling in RG-5
   • Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces (Art. IV, Sec. 7.A.2)
   • Petitioner: 232 Stafford, LLC
   • Present use: Athletic fields.
   • Zone: RG-5 (Residence, General); partially in the Floodplain Overlay District
   • Purpose: Construct about 26 single-family attached structures with about 150 dwelling units and about 300 parking spaces, plus an about 71,088 SF 4-story multi-family high-rise with about 57 units and about 152 parking spaces, and associated site improvements.
   • Public hearing deadline: 9/3/2026. Constructive grant deadline: 10/8/2026.

5. 79 Pullman Street (ZB-2026-073) - 79 Pullman Street (ZB-2026-073)

   • Special Permit: food service (drive-thru) use in ML-0.5 and MG-0.5 (Art. IV, Sec. 2, Table 4.1, Business Use #6)
   • Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces (Art. IV, Sec. 7.A.2)
   • Petitioner: Charter Foods North
   • Present use: Vacant lot.
   • Zone: Split-zoned ML-0.5 (Manufacturing, Limited) and MG-0.5 (Manufacturing, General)
   • Purpose: Remove existing site improvements and build an about 2,328 SF restaurant with a drive-thru, outdoor seating, about 29 parking spaces and other site improvements.
   • Public hearing deadline: 9/18/2026. Constructive grant deadline: TBD.

6. 27-29 & 31 Camp Street (ZB-2026-074) - 27-29 and 31 Camp Street (ZB-2026-074)

   • Extension of Time of relief previously approved in ZB-2025-031
   • 27-29 Camp Street Variance: minimum lot area for a three-family dwelling in RG-5 (Art. IV, Sec. 4, Table 4.2)
   • 27-29 Camp Street Special Permit: To modify the parking dimensional, layout, and/or landscaping requirements, loading requirements, and/or the number of required parking spaces (Art. IV, Sec. 7.A.2)
   • 31 Camp Street Variance: minimum lot area for a two-family dwelling in RG-5
   • 31 Camp Street Variance: frontage for a two-family dwelling in BL-1.0
   • 31 Camp Street Variance: maximum height for a two-family dwelling in RG-5
   • Petitioner: PG Properties Inc - Patricia Vega
   • Present use: 27-29 Camp Street: three-family dwelling. 31 Camp Street: parking lot.
   • Zone: 27-29 Camp Street in RG-5 (Residence, General); 31 Camp Street partly RG-5 and partly BL-1.0 (Business, Limited)
   • Purpose: Extension of time for previously approved relief for parking layout and striping changes at 27-29 Camp Street and a two-family dwelling with parking at 31 Camp Street.
   • Public hearing and constructive grant deadlines: N/A (extension of time).

7. 30 Lagrange Street & a portion of 42 Lagrange Street (ZB-2026-076) - 30 Lagrange Street (ZB-2026-076)

   • Special Permit: extend, alter or change a privileged pre-existing, nonconforming structure and/or use (Art. XVI, Sec. 4)
   • Petitioner: Worcester OZ Fund 2 LLC
   • Present use: Vacant former parking lot with gravel and retaining walls.
   • Zone: BG-6.0 (Business, General); Commercial Corridors Overlay District - Downtown Subarea (CCOD-D)
   • Purpose: Construct an about 41-space non-accessory parking lot.
   • Public hearing deadline: 9/24/2026. Constructive grant deadline: TBD.

Other Business

8. Communications
9. Discussion of Board Policies and Procedures
10. Approval of Minutes - 5/18/2026; 6/8/2026; 6/29/2026; 7/20/2026
11. Adjournment

Transcript

Transcript pending: YouTube captions can't be retrieved yet (see the Worcester playbook).