Board of Appeals 08/20/2025

(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)

Have you ever faced the frustration of realizing your carefully planned project just won't work? That's exactly what happened to Raynham resident Dana Meyers when he discovered his meticulously designed four-bay garage wasn't going to be deep enough for his trucks.

The August 20, 2025 Raynham Zoning Board of Appeals meeting offers a fascinating glimpse into the mechanics of local governance and property improvement. Dana Meyers appeared before the board seeking a special permit for his 1,376 square foot private garage project on Carver Street. With disarming honesty, he explained his predicament: "My truck is 18 feet, so there just wasn't enough room" in the originally planned 22-foot deep structure. As a carpenter who needs space not just for vehicles but also for tools, Meyers needed those extra five feet of depth to make the garage functional.

What makes this case particularly interesting is the board's careful consideration of the line between residential and commercial use. While Meyers stores his carpentry tools at home, he assured the board that all actual business operations take place at his separate commercial space on Route 138. The board's approval came with just one condition: that the garage maintain strictly residential use. It's a perfect example of how zoning regulations aim to balance homeowners' needs with neighborhood character preservation.

Whether you're planning your own home improvement project or simply curious about how local government works, this case demonstrates the importance of careful planning and understanding zoning requirements before breaking ground. Have you checked if your next project needs special permits? A little preparation might save you from having to make your case before the town board!

Chapters

• 0:09 Meeting Called to Order
• 0:54 Special Permit Application Introduction
• 1:55 Homeowner Presents Garage Plan
• 3:56 Board Questions and Concerns
• 5:03 Approval and Meeting Adjournment

Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:09

Good evening. The proceedings are being transcribed and recorded to provide full and accurate meetings minutes and allow full participation of the clerk. And allow full participation of the clerk. Like to call the hearing to order on today, august 20th 2025, at 7 pm at the brain him tomorrow town hall. To my left I have Fran McBurke, to my right barrett johnson and I'm rob costa chairman dude, we'd like to read in the first matter.

Speaker 3: 0:54

First matter uranium zoning board of appeals will hold a public hearing on wednesday, august 20th 2025 at 7 pm at the rainham veterans memorial town hall, 558 south main street. On petition number 1058 application for a special permit in accordance with the Rainham zoning bylaws, section 350, dash 7.4, subsection 30, to allow the construction of a thirteen hundred and seventy six square foot private garage in a residential a district at 6 Carver Street, rainham, massachusetts. Assessors. Map for lot 21. Application is submitted by Dana Meyers and Charlene Meyers of Rainham a copy of the application and plan available for viewing at the town clerk's office of Board of Appeals office, 558 South Main Street, rainham, during usual scheduled business hours. Any person wishing to be heard and interested in this middle should appear at the time and place it designated. Iranian planning board Alvarez Jim think.

Speaker 2: 1:50

Is there anybody here to speak in favor of the application? Just?

Speaker 1: 1:56

make to thank the stand and look this.

Speaker 2: 1:59

Swear you in. So hold on. If you could raise your right hand so I can swear you in all um. Do you solemnly swear that the SO HOLD ON ONE SECOND IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND SO I CAN SWEAR YOU IN. Do YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT THE TESTAMENT THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO GIVE TO THIS BOARD SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. So I HOPE YOU GOT.

Speaker 1: 2:13

IT.

Speaker 2: 2:15

I DO, if YOU WANT TO STATE.

Speaker 1: 2:17

YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, DAN Prospect Hill Street, Rainham. So I had the plans drawn up for my garage Four Bay Garage, had all my plans drawn up and then I realized that it wasn't deep enough. I have two trucks and two cars that I work on. I restore like cars myself for my own personal business STORE LIKE CARS MYSELF FOR MY OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS GARAGE WASN'T DEEP ENOUGH. I WENT TO THE 1200 SQUARE FOOT TO GET THE FOUR BAYS. I THINK IT WAS ONLY 22 FEET DEEP. My TRUCK IS 18 FEET, SO THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH ROOM. I'm A CONTRACTOR, SO I PUT ALL MY TOOLS IN ONE BAY OF A GARAGE. I HAVE NOW put all my tools in one bay of a garage. I have now and I didn't measure it, which was my bad, had my plans drawn up realized it was too small, had the architect draw just a five-foot extension and not quite the whole length of the building. So that's the reason why I'm here, yeah.

Speaker 3: 3:28

Okay, you mentioned that you have a business there.

Speaker 1: 3:31

You don't run a business out of there.

Speaker 3: 3:34

You just store your personal equipment.

Speaker 1: 3:36

Yeah, I'm a carpenter, so I just pull my truck in load on load tools. I don't work out of it. I have a shop. I rent a building down on 138 that I have a shop at. I do a lot of millwork stuff at, NO WORK AT MY HOUSE. Okay.

Speaker 2: 3:56

OKAY, it SEEMS TO ME NOTHING OVERSIZED, it FITS.

Speaker 1: 4:06

IN THE AREA IT'S.

Speaker 2: 4:07

OBVIOUSLY A DECENT PIECE OF LAND. So ALL RIGHT. Do YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? My ONLY THING WOULD BE THAT IT JUST STAYS RESIDENTIAL USE AND IT'S NOT USED AS A COMMERCIAL GARAGE.

Speaker 1: 4:21

OF COURSE ABSOLUTELY.

Speaker 2: 4:23

AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

Speaker 1: 4:39

THAT'S IT.

Speaker 2: 4:40

ALL SET. Obviously THERE'S NOBODY.

Speaker 3: 4:43

ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO?

Speaker 2: 4:45

ADD ANYTHING ELSE.

Speaker 1: 4:46

NO, I THINK I'M GOOD, okay.

Speaker 2: 4:49

IS THERE. Anybody HERE TO SPEAK? Anybody ELSE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR. Anybody TO SPEAK AGAINST, okay.

Speaker 3: 5:03

ANYBODY, I'M READY TO VOTE YEAH.

Speaker 1: 5:04

READY TO.

Speaker 2: 5:04

VOTE.

Speaker 3: 5:05

YEAH, okay, make A MOTION THAT THIS APPLICATION BE APPROVED. Second, all IN FAVOR AYE.

Speaker 2: 5:15

AYE. Does IT CONTAIN CONDITIONS OR ANYTHING? Just THAT IT'S RESIDENTIAL USE ONLY YEP, that's IT. That's IT, all RIGHT, I'm.

Speaker 1: 5:23

GOING TO PUT IT ON THE TABLE. Yes, that's IT. That's IT ALL RIGHT, I CAN LEAVE. Thank YOU, guys. I APPRECIATE IT. Have A GOOD NIGHT.

Speaker 2: 5:31

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

Speaker 3: 5:38

DO WE.

Speaker 2: 5:39

HAVE TO AGENDA OR ANYTHING. Is THERE ANY? No, but YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND THE TABLE, okay, does?

Speaker 3: 5:44

ANYBODY. Have A MOTION, make A MOTION.

Speaker 2: 5:46

MAKE A MOTION ADJOURNED SECOND. All IN FAVOR, all RIGHT AYE.