The board first addressed the special permit request from Wesley Krasco for his property at Nine Prancing Road. Krasco proposed a 20% reduction in the side and front yard setbacks to facilitate the construction of a double-car garage and extension of an existing front porch. The existing structure only permitted a single-car garage and a two-foot-wide porch. Krasco detailed his plans, noting that the new garage design would avoid the need for additional variances by adhering to the proposed setback reductions.

The board members thoroughly reviewed the design plans, focusing on the garage’s angle to ensure compliance with zoning regulations. They also considered a project engineer’s note regarding the need for erosion control measures due to the location’s proximity to a wetlands buffer zone. Despite these considerations, the public hearing for this request concluded without any comments from the community, and the board unanimously approved the permit with stipulations based on the engineer’s review letters.

The second major discussion involved a special permit application from Joseph and Angela Vasipoli for their residence at Six Footpath Road. The Vasipolis aimed to reduce the front yard setback from 40 feet to 32 feet to accommodate an addition. Joseph Vasipoli explained that the reduction was necessary due to grading issues and the need to preserve existing trees in the backyard. The board engaged with Vasipoli about the architectural plans, which included a new surveyor due to previous complications with another surveyor who had passed away.

Further examination of the project revealed a letter from Sheila Joyce, the project engineer, who raised concerns about the proposed porch’s proximity to the existing sewer service. She recommended that the applicants coordinate with the Department of Public Works to address any necessary alterations to the sewer service. Additionally, Joyce suggested implementing erosion control devices and considering roof drain dry wells to manage stormwater runoff, although these were not prerequisites for approval.

The board also reviewed a letter from Josh Abbott of the Chelmsford Fire Prevention Office. Abbott highlighted the absence of full architectural plans, which prevented a determination on the requirements for smoke, heat, or carbon monoxide detectors. He stressed compliance with all relevant building codes and requested his letter be added to the public record.

During the public comment period for the Vasipolis’ request, two nearby residents, Brenda Desimony and Chris Hannerford, expressed support for the project, noting they had no concerns. With no opposition, the board closed the public hearing and swiftly approved the special permit, incorporating the considerations outlined in the review letters.

In addition to these permit approvals, the board briefly discussed a variance request for a lot off Russell Road owned by Dylan Lee. Lee sought to reduce the front yard setback from 20 feet to 14 feet due to wetland considerations for a new dwelling. However, the board decided to defer this matter to a future meeting on January 8th, allowing more time for deliberation.

The meeting also encompassed routine administrative tasks, including the confirmation of the 2026 meeting schedule. Notably, the board adjusted the July meeting date from July 2nd to July 9th to avoid conflict with the Fourth of July holiday. The September meeting was scheduled for the 3rd, despite its proximity to Labor Day.