51-53 Park Street Fifth Unit Legalization (Docket 3914)

At a glance

What: A recently purchased building at 51-53 Park Street is recorded by the building department as a four-family dwelling in a two-family district, but it has five units, including a rear unit built as an addition under a 1988 permit. The new owner wants to renovate interiors and convert to five condominiums, and the building commissioner advised seeking a special permit to legalize the fifth unit.
Evidence: The assessor has taxed it as five units; the prior owner (1999 to August 2026) said it had five units when purchased. Seven parking spaces would be assigned (one each to three units, two each to two units). No exterior changes are planned.
Board review: Treated as an extension of a nonconforming use, with the test being no substantially more detrimental effect. One member questioned how the bylaw language gets to that result but did not object to the outcome. Dimensional nonconformities noted: front yard 2.6 feet versus 20 required, height 38.1 feet versus 35.
Outcome: The board closed the hearing and a member was asked to direct drafting of a decision approving it, using the three standard conditions; the vote is expected October 27. One member was present but not voting on the close.

Based on auto-generated captions of the video; names and numbers may be misheard.

2026-10-13 - Zoning Board of Appeals - Hearing held and closed; draft approval to be voted Oct 27.
2026-10-27 - Zoning Board of Appeals - Decision listed on the agenda (outcome unknown).