Latest news with #ZoningBoardofAdjustment
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ZBA grants variances for six-story, 51-unit mixed-use building at North End Superette site
Members of Manchester's Zoning Board of Adjustment have granted variances for plans to build a new six-story, 51-unit multifamily housing development at the site of a popular Manchester convenience store. Plans submitted by Granite Earth LLC show the store, North End Superette at 1308 Elm St., would remain part of the new, larger structure, which includes commercial uses on the first two floors — including a new underground parking garage with 39 spaces. Granite Earth LLC sought a density variance to allow 51 units where 15 units are allowed under Section 8.04 of the city's Zoning Ordinance, as well as a variance from visual clearance area required for a corner lot. The variances were approved on a 3-2 vote, DEV LLC owns the approximately 9,200-square-foot property at 1308 Elm St. that has frontage on Elm Street, Fir Street and North Hampshire Lane. Daniel Muller, an attorney at the Manchester-based law firm Cronin Bisson & Zalinsky P.C., represented DEV LLC at the ZBA meeting. 'The proposal here is to create a mixed-use building consistent with many of the other mixed-use buildings that are found along this section of Elm Street,' Muller said. 'We are here tonight for basically two reasons. The lot is not large enough for the proposed density, and the building is a corner lot and doesn't have the necessary clearance of the corners.' The underlying building dates back to 1890, according to assessment records. The property has its origins in the 19th century as one of the lots shown on the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company plans. Through 2023, the northerly portion of the property was subject to a lease for approximately 20 parking spaces, and located within the Central Business District zoning district. Granite Earth had hoped to incorporate the existing store into the larger mixed-use building. 'My understanding (from the applicant) is that his structural engineers have suggested that perhaps what they'll have to do is replace the existing building, for structural reasons, with something new,' Muller said. 'It'd be a similar space to what's currently there, but it would technically be part of a new structure, rather than a simple incorporation of the existing structure.' Muller was asked if his client considered any level of voucher or affordable housing units in the project. 'I think the plan right now is to make them standard market rates,' Muller said. Two residents aired concerns with the proposal during a public hearing on the variance requests. Brittany Ping, a Putnam Street resident, said she is an authorized agent for 1354 Elm Street Real Estate LLC, an abutter to the property. 'Their concern, I understand, is not density, it's line of sight,' Ping said. 'So that property does have concerns about their mixed use commercial tenants exiting, and also they have billboards, so it is going to impact their revenue directly, because their billboards will not be visible when you put a story structure taller than their second story billboards that are facing Elm Street.' Deborah Boucher, a resident of Myrtle Street, said she doesn't think the developer is allowing for enough parking. 'I live in a building of six apartments, and not one of them doesn't have more than one vehicle — they have anywhere from one to three,' Boucher said. 'So I don't really see how people are going to live in an apartment building that don't have any parking available to them. I mean, he's allowing for 30 something lots, but there's 50 something apartments. I just am really concerned about all the density that's been put in that area. It's not good.' Aly Rosenblatt lives on Elm Street. She said there are things she both likes and disagrees with concerning the proposal, and supports the density variance to allow for more housing in the city, but believes there should be at least 10% reserved for Section Eight voucher holders and targeted to low income housing. 'At a baseline, we do need more housing stock, which is why I am generally supportive of the density variance requested here,' Rosenblatt said. 'But more than that, we do need to ensure that new housing is going to be accessible to low-income renters, and because too many of these new developments going up are either going for standard market rate or they're going for workforce housing, which is not targeting the truly affordable housing that we need.' The first and second floors will consist of parking and a commercial unit, with the second floor being at street level. Parking on the first two floors will consist of 39 spaces, including three handicap-accessible parking spaces. The owner also proposes including an EV charging station on each of the first two levels. There are two proposed entry points to the garage, one on the upper Elm Street side and another on the lower North Hampshire Lane side. The upper five stories of the structure would consist of 51 one-bedroom and studio apartments, with proposed amenities including a street-level mail room, a trash chute to a street-level dumpster, laundry room, theater, recreational room, fitness room, a common dining room/kitchen and common area top level deck with a barbecue grill.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Manchester sober house seeks variance to house more residents
The owner of a Manchester sober house for women will go before the city's zoning board this week, seeking a variance to allow the property to house additional residents. The variance request for 117 Ramsay St., sought by Persephanie Lesperance of Grandmaison Recovery Homes, appears on the agenda for the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting this Thursday at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Grandmaison Recovery Homes already operates a sober house for women at the site, with each unit allowed to house four unrelated individuals — accommodating up to eight residents. 'However, to better address the growing need for safe housing for women in recovery, we propose adjusting the occupancy limits to six residents in apartment one and seven in apartment two,' writes in a letter to city officials that accompanies her application. In the variance application, owner Alicia Grandmaison says increasing the number of residents 'won't be disturbing anyone.' 'Residents are typically out at work, school or therapy during the day — there is a curfew and rules are enforced,' Grandmaison writes. 'Sober living contributes positively to the community. Our homes help women reintegrate into society, promoting stability and decreasing the burden on local social services.' Lesperance says supporting the change will enable Grandmaison Recovery to offer 'safe, supportive housing for women protected under the Federal Fair Housing Act.' 'The women live and function as a family, sharing responsibilities for chores and family dinners and holding weekly meetings to discuss community topics,' Lesperance writes. Operations and house managers ensure resident support through regular drug and alcohol screenings and weekly check-ins. All residents must be employed and participate in a 12-step recovery program. 'Our primary goal is to foster a positive community for women in recovery,' Lesperance writes. 'Our top priority is maintaining a good neighbor policy. We remain focused on keeping our property clean and well-maintained. We discreetly screen our smoking area with shrubs and adhere to a regular landscaping schedule. We also encourage residents to ensure they clean up after using the playground when their children visit, fostering personal responsibility and enhancing curb appeal for our neighbors' enjoyment.' Grandmaison warns without the variance, 'it can cause individuals in recovery to be forced into inadequate housing, or exacerbating their addiction due to lack of support.' 'We firmly believe this reasonable accommodation will benefit the city and our residents,' Lesperance writes.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Edison 'walking synagogue' gets OK to expand on Route 27
EDISON - The township Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved the expansion of an Orthodox Jewish synagogue along Route 27 where most worshipers walk to services. The application from Congregation Ahavath Yisrael was unanimously approved by the board on Jan. 28. The synagogue had site plan approval and variances in the general business zone. In addition to a new lobby and sanctuary, the synagogue will add kitchen space to keep food warm. The synagogue has a refrigerator, but no oven. The synagogue also sought variances for the lot width where 100 feet is required and 75 feet exists, front yard setback where 30 feet is required and 10 feet exists, side yard setback where 15 feet is required and 5.2 feet exists, and rear yard setback where 25 feet is required and 20.65 feet exists. Warren Fink, the synagogue's attorney, said the 5,572-square-foot addition is needed because the congregation is growing, with 51 full-time members and 23 associate members. Fink said Congregation Ahavath Yisrael is a "walking synagogue" and driving is strictly forbidden on the Jewish Sabbath and Jewish holidays, so just about everyone will walk to services. Rabbi R'Gedaliah Jaffe, who has served as a synagogue's religious leader since 2008, said the synagogue, which as been at Route 27 location since 2006, offers prayer services, classes with about 10 to 15 people and occasionally weeknight social events. The synagogue does not have a school. He said typically 15 people attend morning, afternoon and evening prayer services. More: Here's why the Edison council hasn't increased controversial speaking time limit − yet Jaffe said most members live within walking distance of the synagogue and those who live a little further will drive before sundown on the Sabbath and park in the synagogue's nine parking spaces. He said there are prayers for about an hour on Friday afternoon and in the morning there are about 40 to 75 people at the main prayer service at 9 a.m. "Everybody walks, nobody's driving on the Sabbath," the rabbi said. On Saturday nights, after the Sabbath is over, people walk or drive home, he said. "There are enough parking spots because the people who live close by will walk to the synagogue and the ones who live a little bit further will drive, but there has always been adequate parking," said Jaffe, adding the new plan calls for 11 parking spaces which will be adequate. More: Edison goes to court to collect $300K in construction code fines from resident He said the Jewish holidays will follow the exact same model as the Sabbath where it is strictly forbidden to operate a vehicle, so people with either walk or drive to the synagogue before the observances, leave their cars in the parking lot and drive home afterward. He said Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are large services in which there may some parking on the street. The project engineer said the driveway for the synagogue is being moved from the intersection of Route 27 and Campbell Avenue to the other end of the parking lot, further down Campbell Avenue. Two handicapped accessible spaces also are proposed. Email: srussell@ Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Edison Orthodox Jewish synagogue gets OK to expand on Route 27
