The 16 Cook Street project was met with resistance from a neighbor at 15 and Sheath Street, who voiced concerns about the deck’s proximity to their bedrooms and bathrooms. The board approved the project on the condition that the overhang be eliminated to address these privacy concerns. This case underscores the intricate balance the board aims to maintain between allowing homeowners to enhance their properties and protecting the interests of the surrounding community.

In another notable case, the board gave the green light to a property on Washington Street to enlarge dormers to increase living space for the owner’s family. The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services received one letter of support and no opposition, indicating a level of community consensus that facilitated the board’s approval, which included a proviso for the Department of Parks and Recreation to review the plans.

The board also addressed the ongoing use of 332 to 340 Summer Street as a public parking lot. The applicant sought approval to maintain the lot for up to 40 vehicles until December 31, 2026, and provided assurances of cooperation with the neighborhood association to keep the lot safe and clean. The Fort Point Neighborhood Association raised issues regarding landscape maintenance, parking standards, and graffiti mitigation. The board emphasized the importance of screening from the public and insisted on addressing landscaping and maintenance concerns.

Further discussions involved a project in the Fort Point area aimed at aligning a parcel with neighborhood standards. The applicant had corresponded with a neighborhood association representative about addressing landscaping and graffiti. The board approved the project with the stipulation of BPDA design review for site plan improvements.

A change in occupancy from commercial to a nail studio on East 1 Street was also considered. The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services reported positive community feedback, and the board approved the request. Additionally, the board confirmed the occupancy of a martial arts studio and reviewed a single-family home project in Jamaica Plain that sought to exceed the maximum floor area ratio by adding a shed dormer and two gables.

The subdivision of the lot on Woodfield Street into two parcels for two single-family dwellings received approval after consideration of public testimony and feedback from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services. Another case on Lri Avenue involved adding a bedroom and remodeling a kitchen, which the board approved after deliberating on the rear yard setback and neighborhood support.

At 104 Char Street, the board deferred a decision on property changes due to confusion over the submission of current plans, recommending a review of updated drawings. Additionally, the board allowed a proviso from La Cera restaurant to be transferred to new owner Antonio Lepe, approved a front side entry construction at 4 to 10 Minor Street, and sanctioned the creation of living space in the attic at 162 to 164 Fair Mar.

The board also approved an update to the occupancy of the building on Minor Street, part of Harbor Health Services, without any planned changes to the building. This decision was made with deference to the mayor’s office and with no significant opposition.

Lastly, the meeting covered the installation of a walk-in cooler for a bakery in a Harvard-owned building. Concerns about noise levels, proximity to residences, and impacts on seating and parking were discussed. The applicant assured that the cooling equipment could be positioned away from residential areas and highlighted the quietness of the compressor. The board clarified that approval was for the cooler and the resolution of a side setback violation, and subsequently granted approval