Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on April 9, 2026 centered on the continued public hearing for the 27 Kimball Road Comprehensive Permit (a 40B application). The applicant team presented updated architectural and landscape concepts emphasizing paired homes, carriage buildings, central green space and over a mile of walkable paths. Board members and the public raised detailed questions about density, unit sizes, circulation, snow removal, fire and emergency access, retaining wall heights, topography, open space calculations, perimeter buffering, potential vernal pool jurisdiction, stormwater, and synthetic turf materials.

After public comments expressing concerns about traffic safety on Kimball Road, density, environmental impacts, and municipal service capacity, the Board voted several procedural actions: it required the applicant to submit revised plans addressing limits of work, grading, parking, and open space (with submissions due a week prior to meetings); continued selection of peer reviewers to the April 30 meeting; requested a site visit with staking for April 28; and directed staff to prepare a scope for a third-party urban design peer review. The applicant also noted plans for a community listening session on April 15 and indicated additional technical reports (stormwater, traffic, and a third-party fire code assessment) will be provided in coming weeks.