Zoning board denies President Street use, points to City Council

Zoning Board · Meeting of March 4, 2026

Lynn Zoning Board of Appeals denies President Street two-family conversion, points applicant to City Council. Attorney Vitale argued the board had sole authority under state law to revive the property's pre-existing two-family use, but Principal Planner Erin Claus and City Solicitor John Slattery said the use had been abandoned since the 1980s and now falls under a City Council-only special permit pathway created by Lynn's recently amended zoning ordinance. The board voted 5-0 to deny without prejudice, preserving the applicant's right to refile with the council.

Separately, the board continued a Johnson Street garage-to-ADU case to April 7 pending permit paperwork, and unanimously granted a variance for a South Street rehabilitation project backed by 11 letters of neighborhood support, with architect Awen Fortuna calling the owners "an immigrant family of humble roots just really trying to do the best they can."

In the full story:

• The complete report — 819 words

Source: the Zoning Board meeting of March 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.