Video summary
The Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals convened a remote meeting on July 14, 2020, to address agenda items in compliance with Governor Baker's executive order allowing public bodies to meet virtually. Chair Christian Klein confirmed the attendance of all board members and noted that while some individuals participated via video or telephone, others were listening only without identifying themselves. The meeting was recorded through both Zoom and ACMI systems to ensure accurate documentation, and attendees were reminded to maintain appropriate backgrounds and avoid screen sharing to protect privacy. Supporting materials for the proceedings were made available on the town's website for public review.
The primary discussion focused on docket number 3515 regarding Thornike Place, where the board considered a request to continue the public hearing from July 14 to August 11, 2020. This rescheduling was based on a letter from the applicant's attorney, Stephanie Kefir, which indicated that the applicant and the board had reached a mutual agreement to delay the session. The delay allowed time for Beta Group, the board's peer review consultant, to complete their evaluation of the application materials submitted earlier in the spring. Chair Klein clarified during the meeting that despite the rescheduling, substantial work remained to be done before the August hearing could conclude the process, ensuring the public understood that the project was not fully resolved at that time.
Following the continuation request, the board proceeded to vote on corrections to the minutes from the previous June 23rd meeting. Several amendments were proposed and accepted, including fixing typographical errors such as changing "barley" to "barely" and correcting "question" to "questioned." Additionally, a new paragraph was added to record criticisms made by Mr. Loretti regarding the permit issuance process, which had not been included in the original minutes. The board also addressed specific corrections related to window glazing inquiries and removed an incorrect initial from a member's last name under docket 473. After reviewing these edits, the board unanimously voted to accept the revised minutes.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and passed unanimously by the board members present. Chair Klein thanked the participants for their engagement and specifically acknowledged Mr. Heim, Mr. Buckley, and Mr. Alerelli for their assistance in organizing the event. He reminded attendees that recordings would be deleted after the minutes were approved unless requested beforehand, directing any further comments or recommendations to the designated email address on the ZBA's website. With all agenda items completed, the board formally adjourned the meeting, ending the proceedings on a professional and efficient note.
Read the full video transcript
Uh good evening. Um
this is the meeting of the zoning
Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals for
Tuesday, July 14th,
uh 2020. Uh my name is Christian Klein.
I'm the chair of the Arlington Zoning
Board of Appeals. I'd like to confirm
that all members and persons anticipated
on the agenda are present and can hear
me. Uh members, when I call your name,
please respond in the affirmative. Uh
Roger Dupont.
>> Yes.
Patrick Hanlin,
>> yes.
>> Kevin Mills,
>> yes.
>> John Oor,
>> yes.
>> And Steve Revelac,
>> yes.
>> And Aaron Ford is unable to attend this
evening. Um Rick Valerelli, our normal
um uh administrator, is unavailable this
evening. Uh but town council Doug is
joining us as well. and looking at the
at those who are present. Um I do not
have a
a representative here from Thorike Place
but that's okay because we do have uh I
do have their letter that they had
submitted to us which I will quickly
locate here.
Okay. Um so good evening. The open
meeting of the this open meeting of the
Arlington Zoning Board of Appeals is
being conducted remotely consistent with
Governor Baker's executive order of
March 12th, 2020. The order suspends a
requirement for the open meeting law
have all meetings in a publicly
accessible physical location. Further,
all members of public bodies are allowed
and encouraged to participate remotely.
Public bodies may rem meet remotely so
long as reasonable public access is
afforded so the public can follow along
with the deliberations of the meeting.
An opportunity for public participation
will be provided during the public
hearings listed on the post agenda
for this meeting. The zoning board of
appeals is convening a video conference
via the Zoom app with telephone access
is posted on the town's website
identifying how the public may join.
This meeting is being recorded both over
Zoom and through ACMI. Some attendees
are participating by video conference.
Other participants may be participating
by phone. Other people may only be
listening and those persons are not
required to identify themselves.
Accordingly, please be aware that other
folks may be able to see you and take
care not to screen share your computer.
Anything you broadcast may be captured
by the reporting and we ask that you
please maintain a quorum during the
meeting, including displaying
appropriate background. All supporting
materials that have been provided
members of this board are available on
the town's website unless otherwise
noted. The public is encouraged to
follow along using the posted agenda.
The chair reserve the right to take
items out of order in the interest of
promoting an orderly meeting.
So with that in mind,
um the first item on our agenda is
docket number 3515,
um Arlington Land Realy LLC, Thornikeke
Place. Um so we had at we had previously
continued the hearing to this date. Um
and after considerable discussion uh
between town council and the applicant
um we got on Friday in the afternoon
received a letter from Stephanie Kefir
who is the
uh the lawyer for the applicant um and
essentially
uh the letter reads dear Chair Klein and
Mr. time I am writing to confirm that
the applicant in the board are in mutual
agreement to continue the public hearing
on the Thornike Place 40B application
from July 14, 2020 to August 11, 2020 at
7:30 p.m. Based on discussions this week
with town council, it is our
understanding that the board's
peerreview consultant at Beta Group are
expected to complete peer review of the
applicants submittal materials filed
with the board earlier this spring
within the coming two weeks.
Rescheduling of the continued hearing
until August 11th allows both applicant
and the board the ability to review such
peer review well in advance of the
public hearing and ensure a more
productive hearing session. The
applicant looks forward to a receipt of
the peerreview comments and thereafter
to continue the public hearing process
with the board on August 11th. Should
you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact me. Sincerely yours,
Stephanie Kefir. Um
so there is a request to continue um
before us. Uh is there any questions or
comments by the board?
>> Seeing and hearing none. Are there any
questions or comments from the general
public or this is a continuation of a
hearing?
>> U Mr. Chair, I think Mr. Hanlin raised
his hand.
>> Oh Pat, did you raise your hand? I beg
your pardon. I I just wanted to be clear
the the letters back. Stephanie's letter
could be understood to say that
everything will all be wrapped up and
we'll be f be able to have a hearing
that will go all the way to the end of
the line on August 11th. It's my
understanding that there's still a
substantial prog process left to unfold
and will be notwithstanding uh Beta's
ability to to react to the initial
submissions on August 11th. And I just
like the recording to we all I think are
aware of that, but I'd like the
recording to make clear that that's true
so that there won't be any
misunderstanding on the part of the
public.
>> That's well taken.
There's anyone from the public who
wishes to speak, if you can select uh I
believe bring up the participants tab
and raise a hand. I believe that works.
Going once, going twice.
Okay, we'll close that. If I could have
a motion on the um request to continue,
please.
>> So moved.
>> Is that Mr. Mills?
>> Is that moved by Mr. Mills?
>> Sean.
>> Oh, Sean had moved it. Thank you.
>> And I seconded.
>> Roger. Second. All those in favor,
please say I. I.
>> All those opposed,
it's a unanimous vote.
Okay. So, that closes that item. The
other item on our agenda is the
vote on the minutes from the previous
hearing which was dated um June 23rd.
Uh I have I've seen two sets of
comments. Um one was from Mr. Mills who
had noted in the under docket 3627
um the fifth line has the word barley
instead of barely.
Um so we will make that change. And then
under item 3621 in the third paragraph
line five uh qu the word question should
have been questioned.
Um, and I had wanted to add, um, after
the fifth paragraph, um,
a new paragraph that would read, "Mr.
Loretti made several criticisms
regarding the process and this
interpretation of the bylaw that he
believes led to the permit being
improperly issued. He submitted a letter
outlining his position." Um, his
testimony was not in the minutes. Um,
are there other
corrections to the minutes? Uh, Mr.
Revlac, I believe you have some.
>> I have two, Mr. Chair.
>> Yes, please.
>> Uh, so the first one would be under
docket 473 Freeman Street.
>> Um, in the third line,
>> oh,
uh, sorry, I'm sorry. Okay, third line
from the bottom. Uh, Mr. Revelac had
some questions with respect to the
window glazing. Was that I I believe
those might have been your questions,
Mr. Chair, but please correct me if I'm
wrong.
>> So, somebody had brought that up and I
had asked about it. So, yes,
I will change you to me. Mhm. And the
other
uh the other item the other correction
was
uh so there is a case where my uh yes so
in do item six.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh for 339 massav the one two three
fourth paragraph first sentence.
>> Oh y
>> um there is no C. Uh please strike the C
for my last name.
We'll do
>> otherwise no further comments.
>> Thank you.
Are there any other
requested colle corrections from the
board?
>> None.
>> Up and down. See none.
>> Okay. With that in mind, I will
entertain a motion on the minutes.
>> Motion to accept the minutes with the uh
edits that have been introduced.
>> Thank you. Roger. Second.
>> Second.
>> All those in favor, please say I. I.
>> I.
>> All opposed.
Unanimous vote.
>> Christian, I wasn't at the last meeting,
so I don't know if I can vote to approve
the minutes. So, I don't know if you
need to reflect that.
>> If if I if my vote counts, make it an I
because I read them, but I wasn't there.
>> No, I will make that uh that they were
approved for Well, Mr. Rebel, do you
agree with the minutes?
>> I agree with the minutes, Mr. Chair.
>> And we have a
50 vote.
Thank you for that clarification.
Um, that was all we had on for this
evening. Um, this being a much longer
initially, but glad it's nice and short.
Um, but with that in mind,
uh, where's the tail end of my little
spiel sheet?
Um, thank you all for participation in
tonight's meeting of the Arlington
Zoning Board of Appeals. I especially
wish to thank um, Mr. Heim for his
assistance in putting the meeting
together as well as Mr. Buckley and Mr.
Alerelli. Please note that the purpose
of the recording of this meeting is to
ensure the creation of accurate meeting
minutes. If persons would like to access
the recording, make sure to make your
request before we approve the minutes of
this meeting that the recording may be
deleted in compliance with records
retention schedule. If anyone has
comments or recommendations, please send
them via email to
zbagtown.arlington.mma.
us. That email address is also listed on
the ZBA's website. Uh to conclude
tonight's meeting, I would ask for a
motion to adjurnn.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> All those in favor?
>> I
>> I. Any opposed?
Very good.
Roger, was that you who motioned?
>> No, it was Pat.
>> I made the motion. Pat
>> moved and Kevin seconded. Okay,
wonderful. Well, that's it.
>> Thank you. Good night.
>> Good night. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you everyone. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.