18 Crystal Street (ZB-2026-075)
At a glance
- What: parking variance (ZB-2026-075) to reconfigure a six-unit, 30-bedroom building near Clark University and Crystal Park into 12 apartments, with no new parking.
- Where it stands: continued on 2026-08-31 to 2026-09-28 after neighbors presented a petition against it; constructive grant deadline extended to 2026-10-20 (per auto-captions).
- Next: applicant to return with a floor plan holding the bedroom count at 30, a parking/transportation demand plan and revised site details.
The proposal
- Petitioner: Crystal Street Apartments, LLC.
- Present use: 6-unit multi-family low-rise dwelling and 2 parking spaces. Zone: RG-5 (Residence, General).
- Purpose: reconfigure the building interior to create about 12 total units with no exterior changes.
Relief sought
- Variance: minimum off-street parking (Art. IV, Sec. 7, Table 4.4).
Hearing of 2026-08-31
- Proposal: six five-bedroom apartments become 12 three-bedroom apartments (30 to 36 bedrooms), no exterior change; building made code compliant (sprinklers, accessibility). Likely tenants Clark University students.
- Site plan changes discussed: rear handicap ramp; covered bike storage for 12 in the rear (must be 5 feet from the lot line); lawn instead of rear stone; small ornamental trees in front given gas meters and wires.
- Trash: city curbside pickup ends above a certain unit count, so the owner would keep a private roll-out dumpster at the front left.
- Neighbors: petition on 17-18 Crystal Street; residents of 16 and 36 Crystal Street and others on both-side parking, snow, emergency vehicle access and student cars. They also said the property had overflowing trash. Callers were told to contact code enforcement or 311 about trash.
- Board: sympathetic to a like-for-like bedroom count; staff suggested a transportation demand management plan.
Status and next steps
- Continued to 2026-09-28 (constructive grant deadline 2026-10-20).
Discussion time
About 42 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-31 - Zoning Board of Appeals | 42 |
Log
- 2026-08-31 - Zoning Board of Appeals - Hearing: attorney Donald O'Neil sought relief of 12 parking spaces for six added units. Four neighbors and a petition opposed on parking, snow-emergency plowing, blocked driveways and trash. Applicant offered to keep the total at 30 bedrooms; Eric Torkornoo asked for a parking analysis. Continued to September 28 (4-0), constructive grant deadline October 20.