Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals denied and granted various variance requests to create more housing in the city at November’s meeting

Several proposals were brought in front of the Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals at Thursday’s meeting that would bring more housing to the city.

TETRAULT REAL ESTATE LLC, represented by Attorney Peter Saulino, requested a Variance to waive dimensional requirements in the A-2 (Apartment) Zoning District. The petitioner proposed to construct a 4-Unit townhouse style dwelling on an existing non-conforming vacant lot(I-23-0039) on Terrace Street waiving minimum lot area, frontage yard
setback, and lot coverage. The petitioner also requested a Special Permit to modify parking
requirements pursuant to section 86-445.

The Board granted the request.

GRAND MANOR HOLDINGS, LLC, represented by Attorney Peter Saulino, removed their proposal seeking a Variance to convert the existing four-unit apartment building at 289 Bank Street into an eight 1-bedroom unit apartment building.

KRC REALTY LLC, represented by Attorney Peter Saulino, requested a Variance to waive all zoning requirements in the A-2 Apartment District for the construction of a two-family dwelling on the proposed Lot 19 at 0 Vale Street. This included waiving the frontage area, side yard, and rear setbacks, as well as the lot coverage restrictions.

The Board denied the request. The project had been denied in the past and a neighbor expressed concern over privacy and lack of upkeep of the property in its current state.

TETRAULT REAL ESTATE LLC, represented by Attorney Peter Saulino, tabled their requested Variance to divide the existing parcel at 102 Meeson Street into three lots, leaving the existing
dwelling on Lot 1 and constructing a two-family dwelling on each of Lot 2 and Lot 3. They also tabled their relief sought from the Fall River Zoning Ordinance as to lot area (affecting Lots 2 & 3), rear yard setback (affecting Lot 2) and lot coverage (affecting Lot 1). This property is located in a R-4 (Two Family) Zoning District.

GRK INVESTMENT TRUST, represented by Attorney Peter Saulino, requested approval to restore the multi–family use of two properties: a three-unit building at 1298 Rodman Street and a three-unit building at 1300 Rodman Street. The proposal also included subdividing the land into four lots, with the two multi-family homes remaining on one lot, and three new lots being created for proposed two–family dwellings. Variance/Special Permit relief are required to reinstate the prior use, as well as to waive lot coverage, side yard setback, and parking requirements per § 86-445 of the City of Fall River Zoning Ordinance. The property is located in the R-4 (Two Family) Zoning District and an HD-3 (Housing Development) Overlay District.

Several neighbors at the meeting expressed concern over the project citing possible parking issues, the new buildings being too close to their properties, and an increase in car accidents to an area that already has too many.

The Special Permit was granted to restore the two existing multi-family properties.

The Board voted 3-2 in favor of the variance, but because it was not a super majority, the variance was denied.