Above: The Town is promoting the need for an alternate member to step in when needed on Zoning Board of Appeals decisions. (image cropped from Town tweet)
One of the Zoning Board of Appeals’ alternate member seats is vacant. The Town is seeking to fill it. They are prioritizing “fair-minded, with experience outside of building, development, and construction industries”.
Several years ago, ZBA members and decisions were the focus of controversies. That may have turned many potential volunteers off. It may help to know that Town Meeting subsequently curtailed ZBA’s authority, taking the most controversial decisions out of their hands.
With an upcoming hearing scheduled for to begin in mid-August and a few potential 40B projects on the horizon, the Town has reason to ensure it has a full roster of members at its disposal.
The ZBA’s responsibilities are to make decisions about “variances, special permits and appeals of decisions involving the zoning regulations of the Town.”
Variances under the ZBA still include allowing exemptions for height, size or setback zoning requirements under certain circumstances. But the board can’t approve uses outside of those defined in the bylaws.*
The board still hears appeals of decisions issued by the Building Commissioner (who serves as the Town’s Zoning Enforcement Officer). But appeals to Planning Board decisions are now directed to the courts to avoid disputes between the two boards.
As for special permits, not all require/allow ZBA involvement. It depends on the bylaws. You can find the Town’s zoning bylaws here.
The Town’s announcement states:
The Town of Southborough is looking for a resident with an interest in zoning to fill an [alternate] member seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals. As an [alternate] member, you will attend all Zoning Board of Appeals meetings, participate in discussions, and may be designated by the Chair to act when a member is absent or unable to participate for any reason. The Board typically meets on the third Wednesday of each month unless otherwise scheduled. Interested candidates should be fair-minded, with experience outside of building, development, and construction industries preferred.
To apply, volunteers are instructed to submit a completed Citizen Activity Form (here) with a resume to the office of the Select Board.
You can learn more about the ZBA here and find videos of meetings here. (To find them all, you have to do two searches, one for ZBA and one for Zoning Board of Appeals.)
*Projects approved by MassHousing as eligible for 40B applications are able to bypass the Town’s local zoning bylaws, but that’s based on state legislation and not the ZBA’s whims.
