Zoning Board of Appeal, September 8, 2026
Denied: Denial without prejudice of lot combination/subdivision at 18R Plain Street, unanimous
What happened
On September 8, 2026, Boston denied Denial without prejudice of lot combination/subdivision at 18R Plain Street (unanimous).
The Boston Zoning Board of Appeal heard numerous residential and commercial variance and change-of-use cases on September 8, 2026, approving nearly all with unanimous votes.
- Jurisdiction
- Boston, MA
- Date
- September 8, 2026
- Decisions
- 30 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Denied, unanimous
Projects in this meeting (12)
Each is its own project; some span multiple hearingsConvert commercial to residential
ApprovedChange to three-family dwelling
ApprovedRoof deck
ApprovedChange to three-family dwelling
ApprovedNew five-unit building
ApprovedNew two-townhome building
ApprovedRenovation and balcony/roof deck
ApprovedConvert to four-family
ApprovedCulinary training facility
ApprovedSouth Boston Municipal Court
ApprovedRoof deck relief
ApprovedDenial without prejudice of lot combination/subdivision
DeniedFree sample: decision 1 of 30
Grant of extensions for 12 cases
The board granted extensions on 12 cases including 4 Deaver Street, 729 Park Street, 10 Thompson Square, 59 Hillock Street, 115-121 Boston Street, 151 Liverpool Street (8th extension), 2207 Norchester Avenue, 58 Cedrus Avenue, 155 Portland Street, 43 Hutchings Street, 43 R Hutchings Street, and 5 Warren Avenue. Discussion noted 151 Liverpool St has been extended for six-seven years; staff explained under the Permit Extension Act permits acted 23-25 have automatic two additional years.
The other decisions are listed below. Available full write-ups and conditions are included with Pro.
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Key Decisions (30)
Grant of extensions for 12 cases
Subcommittee recommendations for 5 cases
Building code relief at 4 Haynes Street
Roof deck relief at 8 Lawrence Street
Use variance for South Boston Municipal Court at 460 West Broadway
New two-townhome building at 42 Lambert Street
Renovation and balcony/roof deck at 66 Rutland Street
Single-family addition at 11 Ashley Street
Change to three-family dwelling at 388 Arborway
Change to three-family dwelling at 17 Copley Street
Legalize eight residential units at 32 Wycombe Street
Outdoor patio at 772-778 Adams Street (Landmark Public House)
Enclose structure at 97 Milton Street
Combine and subdivide lots at 72/74 Readville Street and 5 Waterloo Street
Deferral of 350 Athens Street
Deferral of 336 E Street
Deferral of new single-family home at 21 Katuit Street
Convert commercial to residential at 24 Stimson Street
Change of use to fro-yo shop at 90-92 Elk Street
New six-unit building at 364-368 Athens Street
Roof deck at 555-567 East Broadway
Deferral of 26 Byrd Street
Deferral of 151 Lenox Street
Deferral of 44 Granger Street
Convert to four-family at 442 East 5th Street
New five-unit building at 120-120D Old Harbor Street
Culinary training facility at 2073-2189 Washington Street
Denial without prejudice of lot combination/subdivision at 18R Plain Street
Renovation and vertical addition at 401A-401 Chelsea Street
ADU carriage house conversion at 722R East 8th Street
Full write-ups and conditions for all 30 decisions in Pro.
Development Activity (22)
4 Haynes Street condominiums
Residential
460 West Broadway - South Boston Municipal Court
Commercial
42 Lambert Street townhomes
Residential
66 Rutland Street renovation
Residential
11 Ashley Street addition
Residential
17 additional development records with full detail in Pro.
Market Signals (5)
Housing Demand
Numerous small-scale residential conversions and additions (two-to-three-family, three-to-four-family, basement/ADU legalizations)…
Commercial Demand
Commercial change-of-use activity remains modest, with a laundromat converting to…
Infrastructure
Plan East Boston zoning (MU5 sub-district allowing up to five…
2 additional market signals with full detail in Pro.
Who spoke
20 distinct speakers; 6 identified names.
All speaker roles: 7 Attorney, 1 Clerk, 3 Public, 3 Staff, 1 Applicant, 3 Board Member, 1 Chair, 1 Applicant Rep.
Identified name roles: 4 Attorney, 1 Staff, 1 Board Member.
6 more identified names in Pro: 4 Attorney, 1 Staff, 1 Board Member.
Full speaker roster in Pro
Meeting audio
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Audio in Pro
Zoning terms (16)
140 recorded timestamps
- zoning (30 timestamps)
- approved (20 timestamps)
- motion to approve (4 timestamps)
- variance (9 timestamps)
- deferred (5 timestamps)
- setback (15 timestamps)
Decision moments (28)
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30 recorded decisions, 6 conditions across 6 decisions. Available full write-ups are included with Pro for Boston.
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