Rowley ZBA Closes Variance Hearing, Finds Lot Already Grandfathered

ROWLEY — October 19, 2018 — Rowley Zoning Board of Appeals ruled a vacant Leathersville Street lot is grandfathered, clearing its owner to sell without a variance. At the October 19 meeting, the board closed a hearing on a variance application by Nancy Miller, who owns two adjacent parcels at 526 Leathersville Street totaling roughly 112,610 square feet, after the chair confirmed with the building inspector that Lot 3-1 — a 41,070-square-foot vacant parcel deficient in both area and road frontage under current zoning — retains grandfathered status and can be sold as-is. The town planner's letter had warned that pursuing an Approval Not Required boundary adjustment would strip the lot of that status and likely render it unbuildable without a variance. The board also voted to continue the long-running Marion Way Case No. 1806 to November 15 while requiring the applicant to appear in person and report progress before any further continuances will be considered.