Opening and Remote Meeting Compliance
The Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting was held remotely in compliance with the fiscal year 2023 appropriations act allowing for remote meetings until March 31, 2025.
Upcoming Board Elections
The board’s election for Chair and Vice Chair is scheduled for April 30, 2024. Members interested in leadership roles were encouraged to step forward.
Review of Zoning Bylaw Changes
The ZBA reviewed 10 zoning articles recommended by the Arlington Redevelopment Board (ARB) for town meeting consideration.
Article 25
This article sought to modify the definitions for “attached” and “detached” buildings. It was recommended for favorable action and clarifies the gap in the existing bylaws.
Article 26
The ARB recommended a clarification regarding a six-foot setback, adding an exception for accessory dwelling units.
Article 27
The article intended to reformat the accessory dwelling units section for better reference and strike a paragraph because it was no longer relevant. It was recommended for favorable action.
Article 28
The proposal to remove the inland wetland overlay district was recommended to be struck from the bylaws.
Article 29
This article proposed a reduced height buffer between properties in different zoning districts and was recommended for favorable action with height adjustments based on building stories.
Articles 30, 32, 33
- Article 30 aimed to require shade in parking lots with 25 or more spaces and had mixed support.
- Article 32 on visibility at traffic intersections was recommended for no action.
- Article 33 proposed adjusting rear yard setbacks in business districts for buildings with four or more stories, supported by the ARB.
Article 31 and 34
- Article 31 sought to include in the MBTA neighborhood district and was recommended for favorable action.
- Article 34, which was about residential uses, was not recommended for action, as the proponents are garnering more support for the proposal.
The next meeting was scheduled for April 9, 2024, and April 30, 2024, was noted as an adjusted date due to a holiday.
Adjournment
With no other business, the board moved to adjourn the meeting.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9FsyHfxaRg