A central focus of the meeting was a petition involving the Cherry Webb property on South Main Street. The proposal aimed to convert an existing professional office building into a mixed-use facility with up to 70 residential apartments and commercial spaces. The request included a variance to permit residential use on the first floor, which challenged existing zoning laws that typically prohibit such use in the area. The discussion featured input from representatives of the Bristol County Economic Development Corporation, who underscored the importance of revitalizing the downtown area. They supported the mixed-use approach as a means to generate foot traffic and stimulate economic growth. Board members expressed concerns about the visual and commercial impact of allowing residential units on South Main Street. The board ultimately approved a variance with the condition that no residential units face South Main Street, maintaining the commercial continuity of the area.

Parking concerns were a recurring theme throughout the meeting, with debate over how to accommodate the increased demand from the proposed developments. The board discussed parking calculations related to the mixed-use development, noting that the existing structure could require up to 173 parking spaces. A proposal to reduce the parking requirement for residential use to a one-to-one ratio was debated, with the board ultimately deciding to approve a special permit conditional upon securing 70 parking spaces within a 2,000-foot radius of the building.

Another prominent agenda item involved Bayate Realty Investments LLC’s request for a variance to demolish an existing garage and construct a residential duplex on zero Roth Street. The petition sought to waive specific zoning requirements related to lot area, frontage, coverage, and building setbacks. The applicant argued that the property’s location at the end of a dead-end street and its abutment to city-owned land constituted a hardship justifying the variance. The board granted the variance unanimously, with a note to ensure the demolition of existing structures, including an abandoned chicken coop, to improve the site’s compliance.

The board also considered a petition from Carol Okonnell to operate a seasonal bar and event space at a commercial boatyard. The revised proposal included a reduction in capacity from 200 to 150 patrons and detailed parking plans. Okonnell emphasized the project’s potential for local economic development and community engagement. The board expressed concerns about traffic and alcohol service management, particularly regarding entrance and exit points. The proposal received favorable feedback after addressing these concerns, and the board approved the petition with conditions related to parking and emergency access.

In another case, the board deliberated on an application from Imigen Pharmaceuticals to modify parking setback requirements for their facility on Current Road. The request aimed to reduce the parking setback from 20 feet to 5 feet to accommodate an expanding workforce. The board approved the special permit, viewing the need for additional employee parking as a positive development.