Board of Appeals 12/17/2025

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

A quiet room at Town Hall became a front-row seat to how housing policy meets real life. We opened with a detailed request to divide a 1.31-acre lot on Forest Street into two smaller parcels, keeping the main house on one and converting an existing garage into a small ranch on the other. The engineer walked us through square footage, frontage, and the 125-foot building envelope, noting town water and sewer that shift the old calculus on minimum lot size. The family’s goal was simple and human: create an affordable path for adult children to stay in the community they love.

Neighbors arrived prepared and thoughtful. They spoke about privacy, headlights, and windows facing living spaces, and they flagged stormwater history that already required French drains and a sump pump. They also challenged the legal threshold for a variance, arguing that financial need alone doesn’t meet the standard for hardship. We worked through whether an accessory dwelling unit would produce similar impacts by right—same driveway use, similar massing—yet leave title and responsibilities blurred. That “cleaner” ownership line became a key factor, along with commitments to limit clearing and add evergreen screening to protect sightlines.

After careful deliberation, we approved the variance with the expectation of privacy buffers and strict respect for setbacks. The decision acknowledged existing undersized lots nearby, practical ADU alternatives, and broader state housing pressure trending toward smaller lots. We then heard a second petition seeking a special permit for a 1,400-square-foot private garage. The applicant emphasized personal storage and no business activity. We approved with clear conditions: no commercial use and any future move toward habitable space must return for review.

This episode captures the real mechanics of land use: navigating bylaws, listening to lived experience, and placing targeted conditions that balance neighborhood character with pressing housing needs. If you value grounded, transparent decision-making on zoning, subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review with your take on the variance vs. ADU question. How would you have voted?

Transcript

Meeting Opens And Petition Read

SPEAKER_04 0:06

Okay. The proceedings are being transcribed and recorded to provide full and accurate minutes and allow full participation of the clerk. Call to order the zoning board of appeals at Town Hall on Wednesday, December 17th, 7 p.m. To my right is John Texarra. To my left is Francis McGwork and I'm Peter Schondek, the chair. Could the clerk read the first petition?

SPEAKER_02 0:38

The Rainham Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, at 7 p.m. At Rainham's Retro's Memorial Town Hall, 558 Main Street on petition number 1062. Application for a variance from Rainham Zoning By Laws Section 350-5-1. Minimum requirements to allow the creation of two lots at 144 Forest Street. Assessors map 13 with less than the required area and frontage. Lot 1 having insufficient area of at 30,000 square feet, and lot two having insufficient area at 37,000 square feet. An insufficient frontage at 119.59 feet. Application submitted by Sarah Wessel Gendrew, if I pronounced it incorrectly, I apologize. Copy of this application and the plans are available for viewing at the town clerk's office and Board of Appeals office 558 South Main Street, Rainham during the usual scheduled business hours. Any person wishing to be heard or interested in this submittal should appear at the time and place designated.

SPEAKER_04 1:55

Thank you. Anyone speaking uh either for or against this matter, could you please stand and raise your right hand? Anyone that plans to speak. You solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give this board shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God. Thank you. State your name, please for the record.

SPEAKER_12 2:23

Good evening. Is that on?

SPEAKER_04 2:26

Yeah, yeah, I believe it's on.

Engineer Outlines Two-Lot Plan

SPEAKER_12 2:28

Okay. My name is Frank Gallagher. I'm at Gallagher Engineering in Foxboro. And I uh did the survey work and the plan work here. So I would like to present what we have. And then Jeff Smith is actually the applicant. Wessel is the owner. But then Jeff would like to speak on this as well. But let me just I'll begin by just putting you on the locus. This is a 20-scale plan that shows the parcel. And it's uh 1.3 acres. It's on the north side of Far Street. It's just east of Everett. Everett Drive is off the page, but you can see right here. And it's directly across the street from Parkwood Drive.

unknown 3:32

1.31 acres.

Context On Surrounding Lot Sizes

SPEAKER_12 3:34

The total cost is 56,953 square feet. And there's a house here. It's been there for quite some time. There's a garage and a shed. There is a town store and town water available in Forestry property. So what we would like to do is divide it essentially in half. Block one would contain the existing house and it would have 150 feet of frontage on Forest Street, but it would have only 30,000 square feet of area. And just as another point, all of this land is up in this area. So lot one would have 30,000 square feet. The zoning plus requires for. But we do have the 125-foot zoning block as a setback. We can place that on the lot. That's not a problem. The house we can solve with the zoning setbacks, even with this proposed lot line on between the splitting. Lot 2 contains a shed and an existing garage. And that lot has 26,953 square feet. And it has 119.59 feet front on forest. We do again have the zoning block, the 125-foot zoning block. But on lot two, we're asking for the weight for both the front edge and on the area. So that's our proposal. Just to help you maybe get a little more of a feel for the surrounding area, one of the requirements that you have for an application is that we show we show the lot and then basically draw a 300 foot circle. And so this is the road here. And this this circle is going to have to be around the 15th difference in that. One more point that I want to make in this something that I hope would be in favor of this application. We are seeking relief, of course, but but I think we're not to grant this relief. I think it's not in violation of essentially the spirit of the zoning. And it's not in violation of sort of the prevailing density in this general area. So what I did here was I outlined the locus in black, and then I just showed a portion of the assessors map for this area. And in this pink hatching, I laid up all of the lots in this area that are essentially of similar size as what we're asking. So they don't meet the 40,000 users, which is not. That's correct. Like Parkwood drive that's right across the street was a subdivision that was done when the residential requirement was third. As was ever drive. And the ones I had actually are either equal to or at times less than what this proposal.

SPEAKER_11 9:14

That is the case. But I would assume there's got more septic systems up there.

SPEAKER_12 9:19

It wouldn't be on anything that's newly constructed. I know I did this development granite app, and that's on sewer. Really pretty much everything, up and down Forest Street and Locus Street now has sewer available. So that you know that zoning change that I think came about that called the 40,000 square foot block size, it really didn't anticipate the sewer and water that's been brought through so many parts of the town.

SPEAKER_04 10:01

I guess my question I quickly set it all up with.

SPEAKER_03 10:21

I move up at 1764. My father actually built the last house. David family friends. And they have been gracious enough to allow us to split this to allow my kids to get an affordable piece of property and stay in town. You know, the town is everything, they've been looking for houses for a year. Everything is overpriced and you know not worth the money. And this gives us the opportunity for my son to, you know, we plan on this this little six by 40. It's a full foundation with a coating to all respect for the hurricane. And what we plan on doing is turn that into a little ranch style house. Um hook up the town water and sewer. So we're not changing any of the buildings. I just want to turn that into a little you know ranch style house for my son. My daughter and her you know soon-to-be husband are gonna have a baby. They'll be living in the main house. Um and then they're just gonna be able to split the expense of the of the property and be able to stay in a town where you know we all who are there. We're not we're not gonna tear anything down, you know, put up another big house or anything. That's all we need, and that's what we're looking for.

SPEAKER_04 12:20

Thank you. Any questions?

SPEAKER_11 12:23

No.

Applicant’s Family Housing Rationale

SPEAKER_03 12:28

But wouldn't that be allowed almost now if I write the ADU the problem is with the ADU, um, it doesn't give it won't allow them to split the cost. You know, with a piece of property, he'll be able to have his own mortgage.

SPEAKER_11 12:52

Right, no, I you know, you know, like as far as the title and finances it wouldn't, but you could still make it into a new unit right there on the same lot, you know, just about the same size.

SPEAKER_03 13:05

Well, yeah, we had we had thought that this would be an easier way, cleaner. Um, because if my daughter, I mean, we're already purchasing the house, uh, whether this happens or not, but um, for her to you know to have the expense, it would burden her mortgage would be you know too high. So if we draw a line down the middle, you know, it'll have his responsibility and she'll have to make it clear. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

Because once you use the keyword cleaner, or we'll be back in 15 years with a with an issue. I guarantee it. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 13:55

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 13:56

Uh anyone else in in favor or want to add to that? Anyone opposed that would like to speak?

Board Questions ADU Versus Split

SPEAKER_05 14:10

I'm um Aaron Anderson. Um I reside at 122 Forest Street, so I am one of the abutters. Um I've lived in my home for nearly 50 years. I mean 30 years, I'm sorry, and I've raised three of my children, Connor Nolan, and Caitlin Anderson, in the community. I'd like to express my concerns regarding the proposed zoning change and the potential division of the neighboring 1.33 acre lot at 144 Forest Street. Throughout my years in this home, I have appreciated the quiet and privacy that my ad provides, largely due to the natural tree buffer and the existing distance between my property and the neighboring house. The peaceful environment combined with minimal sight lines allows me to fully enjoy my deck and my backyard, which are qualities tied closely to the long-standing zoning regulations. The proposal to divide the lot into two parcels of approximately, and I didn't know the exact sizes, but 0.2665 acres, raise several concerns for me and for the character of our neighborhood. These lot sizes would be well below Rainham's established minimum potential potentially increasing density in a community that values larger lot sizes and ample space between homes. A new construction closer to my property line could significantly impact my privacy, as it would provide direct sight lines into my living room and possibly shining light into my bedroom. In addition to the privacy concerns, I worry about the environmental implications of further clearing and adding impervious surfaces, which would exacerbate stormwater runoff and noise levels, as well as diminish the existing tree buffer that contributes to our neighborhood's appeal. My backyard has previously faced drainage challenges, necessitating the installation of a perforated drainage system, waterproofing, French drains, and a sump pump to manage excess water. While I have managed these issues effectively, new construction could reintroduce complications. I believe zoning regulations are intended to offer residents stability and insurance when making significant investments in their homes and property. My decision to purchase my home was influenced by the character of the neighborhood, which I now fear could be compromised. Approving the proposed lot size change may not only affect my property value, but could also set a precedent that offers, alters other neighborhoods in our town. It's important to note that I see no compelling hardship that would justify granting a variance. This lot has maintained its current form for over 50 years, and the existing shape and topography do not seem to inhibit its current use. The requests appear to be motivated by financial considerations. I understand the person selling the house lives outside of the state. I recognize what they're trying to do and I commend them for that. But for those reasons, I still respectfully urge that the board considers the broader implications of the zoning change and prioritizes the stability, safety, and character of our cherished neighborhood. And I did go down and I and I looked at lot sizes online and everything going down Forest Street basically. The majority of the lots actually near us and near where I live, up the top of Forest, are all pretty ample-sized lots. You know, 1.11 uh acres, 0.92, 0.92, 0.92, 0.82, 0.72, 1.33, uh 1.02, 7.96, 1.54. I mean, it goes all the way down until the very bottom of the hill. So up by where I live, we have space, we have privacy, we have trees. I pick my lot, my corner lot, with the intention of not having a home right next to me. I knew what was there, I knew how the lot was set up, the garage has been fine. I see it a little, but I do think that a house itself with lights and noise and sound will significantly impact uh a lot of things for me. So I am against it. But I thank you.

SPEAKER_04 18:00

Anyone else like to speak before again?

Abutters Voice Privacy And Drainage Concerns

SPEAKER_08 18:05

Uh major from 150 Ever Drive, and similar to Aaron, uh, we've lived in the house for about 25 years now. Purchased the lot or the house specifically because of the lot and the privacy. Uh, yes, we can see the shed, but concerned with uh the fact that it would be converted to a house and the the lights and the the the noise and just um uh you know activity that happens in a house. Obviously concerned also with you know cars pulling into that because the that the lights would shine literally right into my backyard and can be seen from all the windows. So I'm opposed just because of um the privacy impact it would have on us, uh as well as um you know it's just not consistent with with um with the rules and the bylaws of the town and kind of the reason why we purchased that house and law. And you know, truthfully, I think there, as Aaron mentioned, there's a financial reason for why they're doing this. There's also a financial impact for us, the others, for them making this change. So for that reason we're opposed. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 19:11

Anyone else like to speak to?

SPEAKER_00 19:15

Hi, I'm Sue Vidia, 9th Parkwood Drive. I am directly across the street from 144 Forest. And my concern is the lot size being smaller, and also what does that do to my property value? Because I bought in my area because uh of the lot sizes, of the restrictions that we all had uh with an HOA, making sure that um we kept the properties a certain way to you know protect our uh property values. And even though I can understand why they want to do this, um this doesn't give me any guarantee that what they're gonna do with that property is gonna be um keeping with the neighborhood as it is now. So for that reason.

SPEAKER_11 20:29

Oh sorry, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:31

Might as well get them all in a minute.

SPEAKER_01 20:33

Just gonna speak in favor.

SPEAKER_02 20:34

Um just you get sworn in.

SPEAKER_01 20:36

Oh no, sorry, don't you get sworn in? Sorry.

SPEAKER_04 20:40

You solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give to the board shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you.

SPEAKER_01 20:47

And then could you please say you can my name is Tyler Weinacker. Um so one of the people trying to, you know, make this deal happen. Um so just a few things I just kind of want to point out regarding just a rebuttal to some of those. You know, I fully understand any concerns when changes in play, right? Um you know, as as they mentioned, certain parts of Forestry definitely are, I mean, if you look right on the GIS website, they give you the capability now to look at frontage, look at square footage. A lot of those are even smaller than what we're proposing. Um, but also just as um was mentioned before with the ADU. I mean, if we went that route, we could all these concerns are still, you know, they they kind of go out the window there, right? I mean, there would still be a a house, there would still be a driveway that, you know, cars are going into, so that's kind of my response to that. Um, you know, again, I fully understand wanting privacy and all that. We're actually, you know, trying to make it better. That house has been sitting there for a while, so we want to, you know, make the neighborhood better again, not just sitting there kind of decaying. So thank you for your time. Appreciate it.

unknown 22:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 22:03

Did you get sworn in? Okay.

SPEAKER_10 22:07

State your name, please. Uh Richard Smith. Actually. 1442 Broadway. That's where I Oh that's the business. That's the business. I have another parcel down further. I just want to throw just some reference real quick. And I and I know you guys can make your own decisions. 1959, all these guys over here, my parents came down here and they moved here from Randall. We bought a hundred acres of land in 1959. And we were very gracious, I guess, because we allowed all of you to move back in. When I grew up, there were two houses on that street. My parents' house at 156, 176, the Wessels house was owned by the Magnussons, and then there was Silva's house further down on the right hand side. So as much as change does come into effect and people do have to live with that change, again, it was all raw land when my parents first moved there. And we were, I guess we were gracious enough to say, okay, you guys can all come back in and live around us as well. These kids, in what we're looking at now, is affordability. We have no open land, very little open land. Our lots now in Rainham, but$300 and something thousand dollars a house lot. As you said, we could probably do this a different way, but again, it does come down to affordability. And if your consideration could be to allow the family to stay where the family wants to be, bring their children up the way that they were brought up, that would be tremendous consideration for all of us. Thank you.

unknown 23:57

Thank you.

SPEAKER_08 23:59

Can I ask a question?

SPEAKER_10 24:00

Sure.

SPEAKER_08 24:03

Is there a difference? To major 150 Ever Drive. Is there a difference in um, I don't know what the proper term is, but uh distance between um a house from a property line versus what was approved for a shed for a property line? I know when I approved my had my shed, there was less worry about the distance. Again, my my concern is the proximity of that uh the garage shed, which would be a house to my property line as well as to I would assume Mrs. Anderson is to her property line as well.

SPEAKER_02 24:35

Let me ask Mr. Gallagher. Well they have that dimension.

SPEAKER_12 24:41

There's there's a lesser setback if if it falls into what they call an accessory.

SPEAKER_02 24:47

No, my my question is the house first is distance from that garage to his property. Which which side are you on? Where are you? What direction?

SPEAKER_08 24:59

This is my property right here.

SPEAKER_02 25:01

That's your property? Oh, then what's the difference from the back of the house, the proposed house to that property line?

SPEAKER_12 25:09

I would say it's probably about 40, 50 feet.

Setbacks, Sightlines, And Conditions Discussed

SPEAKER_11 25:12

Hey, Mr. Gallagher, this dotted line that comes across inside the property, property boundary, is that the that the setback line that you have to build within? So as big as this lot could be, just as long as you don't go within that buffer, you'd be allowed. So this lot could be five acres, ten acres, and you're still allowed to build within that dotted line.

SPEAKER_02 25:42

So so what is that distance?

SPEAKER_12 25:43

That distance are just line.

unknown 26:36

The work in converting this garage can be done really without doing any clearing at all on the lot. And we'd be more than happy to have that placed as a condition of approval that no purpose needs to be done with that's a concern.

SPEAKER_04 26:56

I mean if you've got a tree hanging over, obviously it should be booked. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:05

We've met all the step hands. Yeah. So there's no issue in terms of distance.

unknown 27:14

You've got the 125.

SPEAKER_02 27:25

From the property line. The property line to the industry.

SPEAKER_12 27:40

Um that's uh thirty feet. So then a rod seventy feet? Yeah. From the house around.

SPEAKER_04 28:03

Okay, thank you. Anyone else? Or just add two?

SPEAKER_03 28:10

Yeah, uh, Jeff Smith, 170 uh 120 way. Um as far as the concerns about, you know the privacy, I mean, there are a couple of small trees that we would have to take out, but um, if we put in some you know, greenery to thicken it up to keep that, you know, so that it does provide privacy. And in building this out, I mean, we're not gonna put windows on that side of the, you know, I mean, a bedroom window or opening, you know, we're gonna we're gonna try and keep it private on our side as well. Um so I think we could come to a compromise with putting in trees and making it thicken it up so that it doesn't invade your privacy ways. Um that's really all I can guarantee.

SPEAKER_04 29:16

Would you like to speak again? Okay.

Variance Standards And Precedent Debate

SPEAKER_05 29:20

Um and I definitely appreciate your graciousness about letting us I'm sure you made a lot of money in selling that land. So I don't I don't feel underwitching. This issue is you know when those tow needs to get you know, okay. Yeah, I know. Doing that. Um anyway, I guess you know the difference between having an ADA unit, if that had to be what happened, there's a specific size requirement for that, right? You can't go above 900 square feet. Is that what it is? Or 50% of the part of the existing house?

SPEAKER_04 30:00

There's there's a lot of uh wiggle room with those due to the state regulations, not the not the um uh town regulations. We used to have them, but they kind of just changed all that overall year jurisdiction on that.

SPEAKER_05 30:19

But if a house went in now with the proposal of what's being done now, right? So you have a blueprint for a ranch that's going in based on the size requirements. Well, we all know ranches can go up, right? Eventually, that can be added to. That property potentially could be sold because it's not big enough for the person who's going to be buying it now. So then another family might want it. They're going to add to it. So now that whole issue on my side of the property, that I don't have to worry about anything right now, that it now you're going to potentially have the ability to go up. So now you have a much bigger home on a much smaller lot that is not consistent with anything. And I'm worried that that could happen. I mean, I don't there has to be a lot of trust, I think, going forward with what's going to happen. I'm going to tell you that I am still opposed to it. I know that you guys are going to make the decision that you're going to make. Um, but it it I don't want it there.

SPEAKER_08 31:32

Tim Major 158 ever drive, I guess I would just ask again, we have zoning laws for a reason, and we've all you know purchased houses and and done things based off of that. And you know, what what pri what what precedent does this set and allow for future um opportunities to for for um um residents to do it? Um I guess that would I would ask that and um again just just ask for you to uh recognize that many of us um purchased our homes um based off of what we understood was going to be there uh permanently, and this is just uh making a change that we were not uh aware of, and we obviously didn't profit from all the uh um selling of other other land in the in the town, so thank you.

SPEAKER_04 32:25

Anyone else? Sure. Can you solemnly swear that the testimony you're about to give the board shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you guys.

SPEAKER_06 32:37

Yes, I do. Um I have a question. Are we my name is Austin Major, I'm a residence uh resident at 158 Ever Drive. Thank you. Um I just wanted to make sure if we're looking for a variance here or if we're just taking this to the planning board. Because the thing with the variance is that it's meant to protect people from a unique hardship, um, such as, you know, something related to the land, the soil, the topography. Um it doesn't say what is classified as a unique hardship, um, but it does say what isn't, and one of those things is financial uh burdens. Um I think the only real argument we've heard here in in favor of this um is that it will uh create a cheaper house, um, which I mean plain and simple is a financial hardship um and not related to what would be required to approve the variance.

SPEAKER_04 33:35

Anyone else?

SPEAKER_03 33:40

Jeff Smith, 100 Courtney Way. Um as far as you know the structure, we we intend to keep it as it is, the footprint. It the building just had a new roof put on in 2019. Um we don't plan on building up or you know, and and again, the the privacy factor, we will try and you know thicken up the wooded area in between the two to make this happen and everyone happy. Um I can't really, you know, i if it were to be an ADU um, you know, all that stuff would would be approved without all of this.

SPEAKER_04 34:36

Um I mean this also I mean you could put two or three if you wanted right, right.

SPEAKER_03 34:44

But we're not we're not looking to do that. I know my son is 34, he's you know, that would he would be content with that. Um just being built out. My daughter and her husband are going to you know raise a family in the main house. Um and I also heard um that the state on this on the ballot, there's a ballot question coming out where the state is gonna try and mandate or the minimum size lot of a quarter acre, um, if that has bearing on it.

SPEAKER_02 35:19

But never know what the state's gonna but they are pro housing and the in-law apartment has now become an ADU and when we no longer have the control as to who stays there and affidavits say it's a relative and so forth. We've lost that control. We the town every times actually right now.

SPEAKER_03 35:42

Also, I mean that garage area is assessed at$18,000 tax revenue. You know, obviously, with it being a separate lot and being built out is gonna benefit the town as well, um, as well as us.

SPEAKER_02 36:01

So Mr. Gallagher, if I may, can I ask you to break out your ruler again? I I'd like a distance from the Anderson's home to facing the property to the house to the left of the Anderson's home. Oh, here's the power on the circle.

SPEAKER_12 36:30

Is it well first of all, is it the house on the circle? Uh well uh uh ever it comes right here.

SPEAKER_02 36:38

So that this this space here is that the distance from this house to that house? Yeah, okay. You don't have to measure it.

Board Deliberates And Approves Variance

SPEAKER_04 36:46

Okay, that's a there's a room, I think that's a room in the code. Okay, that's thank you. Any more testimony? Um so I'm going to uh declare the public hearing closed at 736. Um all may remain while the board deliberates, but none may speak.

SPEAKER_11 37:23

Um I'm comfortable with it. Um where that house, where that garage is located. If it were not to be used and they were to build something new, it could be no much closer to the property line than that garage is now. The garage right now is a pretty good setback.

SPEAKER_02 37:44

Um I I guess you know the the setbacks are there, and that would be my my main concern. In terms of the the lot not meeting the size and so forth, there's a lot of lots that don't unfortunately I I've seen this board, not these particular groups, prove much smaller lots with much less frontage. You know, if if you look at it from the point of view, if you don't do it this way, which is the cleanest way, take my word for it. We've seen cases where people don't split the lots properly and and put fences up and so forth, what a mess it becomes down the road because people have an argument and all of a sudden all the goodwill is gone and nobody wants to talk anymore. Okay? Uh either way, something a house is gonna go there. If you do it as an A to you, there's gonna be a house there, and nothing's gonna be different from what they're talking about. This is a much cleaner. I myself, I if if I looked out my house window, I'd rather see a three-bedroom ranch than an old barn. I don't know about anybody else, but so I I see I think it's reasonable. I I think it's it looks nicer than what's there now, and I I don't really see a problem with it.

SPEAKER_04 38:57

Well, as you said, it's gonna it's gonna happen whether it's this way or an ADU.

SPEAKER_02 39:02

Yeah, and this way is cleaner.

SPEAKER_04 39:03

This way is cleaner. As I said, he could put three AVUs over there if he wanted. And then where would you be? I mean, and and and it's and it's not changing any of the buildings. No, it's just subdividing it to a little smaller than uh the usual, but as stated many of the houses around there built earlier were had small left. And you know, and that's actually the envelope size.

SPEAKER_02 39:35

Yeah, it does have the envelope, yeah. Uh and as far as the possibility of them going up, yeah, it is. But so what? It it can go up. Any of the houses there could do that. I don't know if they are already two two stories or not. I I'm not familiar with the area, and unfortunately, I didn't go down that road today. But uh I I don't see that as an issue if it does go up. And again, be given the the the current uh tendency of the state for housing, housing, housing. I mean, I I think you're gonna see somebody mentioned it, but I think you're gonna see the state's gonna want us to, and and we talked about this years ago on the planning board. The state is cutting down, forcing communities to cut down the sizes of the lots, putting more housing in.

SPEAKER_04 40:16

We there's a discussion with that.

SPEAKER_02 40:19

I am I'm just happening to be looking in that direction.

SPEAKER_04 40:22

I don't want to look at you. I know I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_02 40:24

But that that's I agree. They're just gonna keep pushing and pushing and so it's gonna be more and more. We're not gonna have any say in it. And that's unfortunate to some degree because I'd like to think we can control our own town, but unfortunately, we're not the masters.

SPEAKER_04 40:38

It's already happened with the ADU exactly.

SPEAKER_02 40:41

That was a big one to me.

SPEAKER_04 40:43

Um who knows what's coming down the road? Right, all right.

SPEAKER_11 40:48

If you if you just turn things around a little bit, and you may be output there undersized wire, and you may derive there the full size wire, then you have the same input now, and you have a full size wire. You still have a building per se right now. That would be the full size wire. Yeah. And you wouldn't have the argument directions that we have right now.

SPEAKER_02 41:15

Um I I think it's fine why I think it's reasonable.

SPEAKER_04 41:21

Yeah, it's not. I've seen like you're saying smaller lots come through when they do land transfers, they allow them to make them uh I think it's like 25,000 or though. It's like workable. Yeah, all right. So they're they're much smaller, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:41

Yeah, and that's that's the trend now with with the uh with the new developments is to make them cluster. Cluster developments with the lots for much smaller line size. And they transfer land by the way, it's smaller than what these two lots will be.

SPEAKER_04 41:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 41:55

So we have to vote.

SPEAKER_02 41:58

I think motion that that we uh do we have to open the uh approve the meeting back up again first? We close the executive session and reopen the uh no. No? Okay, we can vote while we're in executive. Yeah. I second that motion. All in favor? Aye.

Second Petition: 1,400 Sq Ft Garage

SPEAKER_04 42:21

Aye, aye. Okay, so then I'm gonna reopen the meeting uh at 742. Um your petitions approved, and if you can do the buffer, that'd be great for the neighborhood, you know. Um so the decision that is approved, and anyone having objections to the decision may file an appeal to the Superior Court, and that appeal shall be filed with the town clerk within the base of the filing of the board's decision with the town. So thank you. Um you're supposed to read the above that your butter's worth.

SPEAKER_02 43:22

Yes, I was.

SPEAKER_04 43:23

I'm sorry. That's okay.

SPEAKER_02 43:25

Just take just note that it was uh it has been certified.

SPEAKER_04 43:29

Well on case on uh partition 1062. Um stated into the record that the abutter is supposed to take that so I can use the name for Jennifer Banks Oakfield.

unknown 44:07

Oh, we signed it, by the way. Okay, you okay?

SPEAKER_02 44:14

Is that what this is? Okay, so what is this here? Okay, but we read the reason we're gonna read the list.

unknown 44:36

Okay. All right, so I'll call for the next one. Next next petition.

SPEAKER_02 44:49

Okay. The Rainham Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025 at 7 p.m. at the Renham District tomorrow town 4, 558, South Main Street on petition number 1063. Application for a special permit in accordance with Rainham Zone zoning bylaws section 350-7-43 to allow the construction of a 1,400 square foot private garage in a residential area in the district at 239 White Street, Rainham, Massachusetts. Access is map 8, block 58-A. Applications submitted by William Hill, Ringham Ass. A copy of this application and the plan are available for viewing at the town clerk's office at the Board of Appeals office 558 South Main Street, Rainhouse. During usual scheduled business hours, any person wishing to be heard or interested in this to bill should appear at the time and place designated.

SPEAKER_04 45:50

And do you have a list of abutters?

SPEAKER_02 45:52

I have a list of rebutters. It was signed. They have all been notified and it's been signed and verified by Chris Gallagher for the assessment of assessor.

SPEAKER_04 46:08

Anyone uh provide any testimony, could you please answer?

unknown 46:22

So I'll help you back.

SPEAKER_04 46:25

If you want to come, you gotta come present. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 46:35

Oh, I just thought it was an option. I'm very nervous with this kind of thing, so I don't want a public speaker enough.

SPEAKER_02 46:43

So state the name. I don't want to make you more nervous, but you're on TV. My wife is watching.

SPEAKER_09 46:48

William Hill 239 White Street. Um I don't really know what to say. I just uh So what is your proposal like to do or so I I came up with the idea to build a garage. Um I guess it was more so my error than I did for I didn't realize that there was a um size like requirement. Um size limit. So I went with what actually my wife actually talked me down from the finger and she wanted to finger my room, so I uh I lost out enough. Um that was the size that I came up with and gave the plans and all that stuff, and um I still plan on obviously building it if I don't get proof, but I would obviously would love to have the size that I'm gonna do.

Applicant Details Use And Limits

SPEAKER_11 47:38

So just just for just personal use.

SPEAKER_09 47:47

Um I don't really have any plans to do anything on the top other than storage, but I want the um flexibility to maybe do a uh an in-law comment maybe for my parents someday, but if it's not for my parents, it's not gonna be for anybody. It'll just be maybe like some additional space if I decide to finish it someday. I don't plan on renting it out or anything like that.

SPEAKER_04 48:08

So um you're not fixing cash and stuff and it's just storage for your tools and toys for the case. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 48:18

So I I mean I have a small shadow back that is probably gonna be taken down that what came with the house is pretty much falling down. Um we bought a um a storage unit to put out back. I mean I kind of wanted to have this meeting without bringing up when you have the fire, I'm sure you're aware. Um but I have that out there because we were purchasing stuff to put in the house, we didn't obviously have a garage to put it in, so that's kind of we wanted to get the rental off the property, so we bought that put enough back to put all of our new belongings that were gonna go in the house. So that's probably gonna be acting as my shed after the shed comes down, and then all of that things, all most of those things are gonna be going into the garage. But if I'm not a mechanic, I'm not gonna be doing any any sort of work out of the garage or anything.

SPEAKER_02 49:03

The question is because you know this is that's that could be my thing.

SPEAKER_09 49:11

No, we're gonna be doing that. I'm just a guest guy. I don't I don't work on I mean we do freak jobs and that kind of thing just for my wife's car, which I don't do for a good job, but I try. I tried. Well, I just did her brace on her car and that's the only reason why I said that is because you know she had to take it out and get the calipus done, which I don't do.

SPEAKER_04 49:36

You too many story. Uh so if we do approve it, it would be with stipulations that no business run through it. Um it's uh you know, if we do just personal use and storage and whatnot. Um it's bigger than the house.

SPEAKER_09 49:58

It's about the same size, yeah. 1500 square feet, yeah. I think the house is just a little bit over that, but yeah, basically the same.

SPEAKER_02 50:06

You may have to put a bed in the back card of this garage based on the comments you just gonna be a couch, but yes.

Board Conditions And Approval

SPEAKER_04 50:17

Any guy questions? Anyone else wishing to speak? Okay, thank you. Thank you. All right. Um the public hearing closed at 750. I'll may remain while the board deliberates speak. So I have no problem with that. Yeah, I only have two of these.

SPEAKER_11 50:52

As long as there's no business, I don't know if two of these in my back just keeps in a green neighbor, and we don't see them. Yeah, it's yeah, I mean it's a hand. Oh like some. Oh, you have somebody else that has a six industry.

SPEAKER_04 51:09

Yeah. I mean again nowadays, you know, people have snowmobiles, ATVs, everything else, no. I mean, I can certainly fit back in my garage. Would you like showing snowmobiles? Um stipulations would probably be that um do no business. But do we also put a stipulation that no that they can't finish unless they got turned in? Uh like a mess.

SPEAKER_11 52:37

So I have a garage or another. So uh I know we're talking about this. Yeah, uh we do the writing or uh I think we put it in a finding.

SPEAKER_02 53:07

Yeah, and from there, you force it then becomes about by a very good thing. If you did want to put it a fine there after the fact, I would have to come to him for all the things we need to talk about. Right, right.

SPEAKER_04 53:19

We would look at doing uh game with no plumbing uh that's that's that's fine.

SPEAKER_02 53:28

I mean that's storage. I'd store my pool table up there, yeah. And I I go play the game in the summertime.

SPEAKER_04 53:35

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 53:36

So but that's the stipulation. It can't be used for for for business of any type and any further development of it, for living space or anything else, would be the approval before the tower. Before the uh so any motion that we uh approve the application. I meant that to say with the stipulations that it's not used for any business. Any further development of that property, need the approval of your sound. All favor. All right, aye. All right, any questions?

SPEAKER_04 54:19

The opening the meeting at 754. Uh the application has been approved with the stipulations of uh it can't no business run out of there. And um, if you do any further development upstairs, you can uh for the planning uh the uh building approved.

unknown 54:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 54:42

Um and uh anyone having objections to the decision made, file an appeal to Superior Court, and that appeal shall be filed with the town clerk within 20 days of the filing of the court's decision with the town. So good luck with the graduate officer.

unknown 55:07

I wouldn't trust care of it. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 55:17

Thank you for doing it the right way. Thank you for doing it the right way.

SPEAKER_09 55:21

Thank you, everybody does. I've gotten from the camera popping on my history with the you know, with all my parts that I've taken on and everything. So everything I do, I do it, I do it right. I try to, anyways. Thank you. All right guys. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_11 55:40

Um we don't have any minutes with the motion return. I'll take on that motion. All in favor. Aye. Aye.