ZBA grants Armory permission to have matinees

[ron_newman]

I did not attend last night's Zoning Board of Appeal meeting, but I did get this e-mail today from Debra McLaughlin:

Arts at the Armory is pleased to announce that the Zoning Board of Appeals did approve our request to gain daytime use of the hall last night. The vote was 4-1 in favor of our application.

They also approved a clarification in the process to secure a beer and wine permit as already outlined in the 41 Conditions that govern the use of the building.

For a variety of reasons, we withdrew from consideration our request to schedule overlapping events. We need occupancy numbers from the architect, in conjunction with the Inspectional Services Department, as part of the final permitting process, to answer some of the Zoning Board member questions. We plan to address those soon. We will keep you informed of our efforts on that front.

We appreciate the lingering concerns of the neighbors about traffic, noise and parking. Through the recently established Neighborhood Advisory Committee, we will aggressively and proactively work on these issues. If you have an idea or concern, please contact any of us at NAC@artsatthearmory.org.

Thanks for your overwhelming show of support at the hearing and via e-mail. It made such a huge difference.

We look forward to working with you to promote arts and culture in Somerville!

[end of e-mail]

If anyone reading this attended yesterday's ZBA meeting, please tell us how you thought it went.

(x-posted to somervillemass)

Comments

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

After involvement in many development/special permit/zoning variance issues, it is my belief that the outcome of the hearings is pre-determined. The Administration tells the ZBA (and other boards) how to vote. This could be why the Armory so blatantly told people that they could have matinees despite the fact that the conditions did not allow them. They probably knew that the ZBA was going to allow it. It's all a scam, sorry to say......

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

IAWTC.