Paolo v. Town of Seekonk, 11 Mass. Ct. 906 (1997). The application did not contain any plans or drawings. 837 , 843 (2005) (citing Heacock v. Heacock, 402 Mass. To the contrary, the side-line setback is and has been a serious point of contention since Plaintiff requested enforcement of the setback requirement from the Building Inspector on August 26, 2010, which subsequently resulted in ZBA Decision 2 and Case 2 before this court. [Note 1] Plaintiff filed his Opposition to Cross-Motion on January 6, 2012, Reply Brief, and Affidavits of Kelley Jordan-Price (second), Thomas M. Cunningham, P. E. (the "Cunningham Affidavit"), and William F. Curley, Jr. (certified real estate appraiser) (the "Curley Affidavit"). Graham argues that the Barn should be considered an accessory structure because the purposes being made of the Barn are customarily incidental to the primary use of Defendant Property as a residence. A hearing was held on all motions on January 11, 2012. In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the court may consider pleadings, depositions, affidavits and admissions on file. and one where the regulatory requirements are transparent and clearly enforced. P. 12(b)(1), that this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction of Case 2. Id. The Barn causing erosion, drainage and topographical problems on Plaintiff Property; and 6. Kobrin, 444 Mass. [Note 1] Graham also filed a Motion for Site View, which was opposed by Plaintiff. P. 56(c). Standerwick, 447 Mass. 81 Spooner Road, LLC. maximum height of structures, and all other dimensional requirements in the several districts as set forth in the Table of Dimensional Regulations, except as hereinafter prcwlded_ SUB URBAN DISTRACTS DISTRACTS DISTRACTS DISTRACTS SMU UMW DMV HRC of Dwe All All I dwelling All All All All All All FAR 0.35 0 75 0.35 Lot ocoa 7000 ooc 6030 4500 6030 Essentially, it determines what can and cannot be built on a property. Thomas Bridgewater, Local Building Inspector - Tbridgewater@cityofhaverhill.com. permitted uses, maximum building height, maximum floor area ratio etc. He could not make a determination as to dimensional violations because no "as-built" plan had been submitted to his office showing the location of the Barn, and 2. The construction was completed in December 2010. 978-374-2325. However, Ordinance section 255-26 provides for a five-foot side yard setback for a detached accessory buildings in certain districts, stating: In R and C Districts, a detached accessory building shall conform to the following provisions: it shall not occupy more than 25% of the area of the rear yard; it shall not be less than 20 feet from the front street line, nor less than five feet from any other lot line or from any principal building; and it shall not exceed 20 feet in height. Standerwick, 447 Mass. ORDERED and ADJUDGED that this court has subject matter jurisdiction over ZBA Decision 2. Any use not listed shall be construed to be prohibited. Graham argues that the Building Inspector's and the ZBA's interpretation of the Ordinance is entitled to deference in this regard. 2 cb(sQ!5BsfrK-QZ~>) Q i*d4jUfs8d '$3#YfS4DI*#Z # P_*WZ3ZBv. [Note 12] It is worth noting that this phrase also seems to indicate that other primary uses could be allowed on a lot, and nowhere in the Ordinance does it expressly restrict a lot to only one primary use, as is customary in many zoning bylaws. K Valley Planning Commission 160 Main St Haverhill MA 0130 hill MA 0130. App. Even if there was a way for this court to apply Ordinance section 255-26 so as to apply to structures in an SC zoning district, the Barn would still be in violation of other dimensional requirements in that section, namely, the height restriction. 14. Little evidence was presented that any cognizable portion of the use of the Barn or Defendant Property can be considered agricultural. Ct. 1204 , 1205 (1989) (citing Lincoln v. Murphy, 314 Mass. Blacks Law Dictionary defines "agriculture" as "the science or art of cultivating soil, harvesting crops and raising livestock," and notes that agriculture is a more expansive term than farming - that agriculture "includes gardening, horticulture, viticulture, dairying, poultry, bee raising, and ranching." This matter shall be remanded to the ZBA for further action in this regard. These activities are commonly practiced in accessory buildings and are naturally associated with a single-family residence, especially a lot which is 6.5 acres in size. This matter shall be remanded to the ZBA for further action in this regard. Ct. 435 , 441 (2005)). Id. Id. That Graham was unlawfully using a wood-burning stove to heat the Barn. Subsequently, Plaintiff filed the Cunningham Affidavit and the Curley Affidavit. App. Thus, unlike the plaintiff in Gallivan, who had actual knowledge of the issuance of a building permit, in violation of the bylaw, and chose not to timely appeal its issuance to the local permit granting authority under G. L. c. 40A 8, here, Plaintiff had no such "adequate notice" of the Building Permit(s issuance, or the dimensional violation, and no opportunity to appeal to the ZBA within the thirty-day time period. Plaintiff cites harms related to: 1. As a result of the foregoing, I find that this court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to G. L. c. 40A 7, relative to the appeal of ZBA Decision 2. The primary purpose of 9 Main Street is a singlefamily residence of modest size. Agricultural use is not defined in the Ordinance and therefore we must impart upon the term its usual and accepted meaning. Plaintiff's evidence will be considered "credible" if it "provide[s] specific factual support for each of the claims of particularized injury the plaintiff has made [and is] of a type on which a reasonable person could rely to conclude that the claimed injury likely will flow from the board's action." On September 16, 2009, the ZBA denied Plaintiff's appeal ("ZBA Decision 1"), and upheld the determination of the Building Inspector. 4.1.1 Applicability . While it is true that the Cunningham Affidavit and the Curley Affidavit were filed on January 6, 2012, shortly before the summary judgment hearing on January 11, 2012, they were filed within the time frame agreed to by both parties in the Assented to Motion to Amend Summary Judgment Briefing Schedule, filed September 30, 2011. The City of Haverhill is committed to supporting growing businesses of all sizes. [Note 15]. . When considering a motion to dismiss, "the allegations in the complaint are to be taken as true," DiNitto v. Town of Pepperell, 77 Mass. Reasons to Relocate Your Business. q Moreover, the parties, including Plaintiff, focus their arguments around the accessory use issue, not the agricultural use issue. General Laws of Massachusetts. . Ct. 276 , 277 (2006). This definition is atypical. The maintenance of the automobiles also includes the hobby of restoring classic cars, and all tools, parts, and machinery related to this use are kept in the Barn. Graham also contends that the appeal of ZBA Decision 2 is barred under the doctrine of res judicata because it involves the same issues as ZBA Decision 1. The ZBA denied Plaintiff's appeal by decision dated December 29, 2010 ("ZBA Decision 2"). c. 40A, 17, appealing a decision ("ZBA Decision 2") of the ZBA, dated December 29, 2010, which upheld a decision of the Building Inspector relative to the allowance of an alleged side yard setback violation for the Barn. Finally, Plaintiff challenges the validity of the two ZBA decisions. 257 , 259 (1998)). The term res judicata encompasses both claim preclusion and issue preclusion. Plaintiff filed his Motion for Summary Judgment on October 26, 2011, together with supporting memorandum, Statement of Material Facts, and Appendix. Zoning regulations are determined locally and some cities can have more restrictive regulation systems than others. Section 255-26 may provide for a five foot side-line setback, but it also limits detached accessory structures to twenty feet in height; the Barn is thirty-five feet tall (as permitted by the Table of Dimensional and Density Regulations). Legal department before a scheduled Haverhill City Council vote Tuesday night. [Note 2] Defendant Property is located in the Special Conservation ("SC") zoning district, as designated by the City of Haverhill Zoning Ordinance (the "Ordinance"). [Note 13] There is no evidence that the fruit and nut trees and berry bushes are used for any commercial purposes. Graham initially argued that Plaintiff had not provided any affidavits or other evidence relative to the alleged harms other than Plaintiff's own affidavit, that the harms are speculative and beyond the scope of knowledge of Plaintiff, that the harms are not recognized harms, are not related to a zoning-related interest, are too generalized and not personal to Plaintiff, or are not related to the Barn. Unlike the parties in Shirley, here, the parties have not assumed that the Barn is in dimensional conformity with the Ordinance. Standing is a jurisdictional issue, and it is immaterial when it is raised by the parties or considered by the court. As many as two unregistered cars, two ATVs, and three tractors are present in the Barn at any given time. That it was error to have issued the Building Permit for a thirty-six foot in height structure; [Note 4] 4. The Barn was not constructed during the six month period. Ct. 850 (2008). If, as here, the primary use of Defendant Property is a single family residence, the accessory use must be "either one that is necessary or commonly to be expected" with such a residence. However, as ZBA Decision 2 was decided pursuant to a separate cause of action from that in ZBA Decision 1, it is unnecessary for this court to determine whether the finality of such decisions satisfies the res judicata standard. "Claim preclusion makes a valid, final judgment conclusive on the parties and their privies, and prevents litigation on all matters that were or could have been adjudicated in the action." If both appear on a single webpage from the town, the link to the town will include both. The Property data comprises Zoning information by aggregating: Related Data e.g. Specifically, the Building Inspector replied: 1. A. at 33 (citing Barvenik v. Board of Alderman of Newton, 33 Mass. Id. Sign up for latest update on zoning changes across the USA. endstream endobj 17 0 obj <>/Filter/CCITTFaxDecode/Height 2192/Length 42784/Name/PAGE0001/Subtype/Image/Type/XObject/Width 1696>>stream 3`7S6wz%a\C:z/'* 6. Though it is true that the Barn's setback violation is somewhat minimal, only three feet which descends into conformity in eight to twelve feet along the side of the Barn (Graham connotes it as a "sliver"), the setback requirements of the Ordinance were clearly set out in Table 2 and Graham could have easily built the Barn in conformity with the unambiguous dimensions. ORDERED and ADJUDGED that this court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to G. L. c. 40A 7, relative to the appeal of ZBA Decision 2. 8. This provision of the Ordinance appears to temper the breadth of what may be classified as an accessory use. [Note 3] The Building Inspector did not receive any construction plans until after the Barn had been completed. Zoning is the first stage of the home life cycle and a key influence on all other stages. at 203; Ensign v. Faxon, 224 Mass. DiNitto, 77 Mass. Thus, though Graham is arguing that Case 2 should be dismissed, it is based upon the alleged failure of Plaintiff to timely appeal the dimensional issue in Case 2, which Graham claims should have been raised on appeal from the issuance of Building Permit 1. 9. Zoning defines the legally permitted and prohibited uses of a piece of land, determining if plot of land can be used for commercial, industrial, residential or agricultural purposes. With permission of this court Graham filed a Supplementary Letter dated February 23, 2012, and at that time the matter was taken under advisement. 132 , 135 (1998)) (citing Stowe v. Bologna, 415 Mass. billerica ma zoning dimensional requirements personalizzati per essere insieme nelle cose di tutti i giorni. v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Hudson, 69 Mass. Graham, at the oral argument, requested additional time to file a response if the affidavits were to be allowed. Constr., Inc. v. Cranney, 436 Mass. Here, the parties do not claim, and there is no suggestion to conclude, that Plaintiff had any knowledge that Building Permit 1 had issued on April 25, 2006. Plaintiff argues that the clear language of Ordinance section 255-26 should be interpreted as allowing the five-foot setback only in R and C zoning districts and nowhere else. . Graham has filed a Motion to Dismiss Case 2, which must be decided first. The Barn is also used for storage and maintenance of equipment related to personal agricultural and forestry uses of Defendant Property for fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and firewood harvesting. The Plaintiff's argument was that the bylaw made renting of rooms to not more than four persons an accessory use to a single-family residence. [Note 5] In Exhibit A of ZBA Decision 1, the ZBA indicates that it relied on the Building Inspector's responses at the appeal, which included the determination that Defendant Property was going to be used for agricultural purposes, specifically a tree farm. Lexington Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02420 . 7. There, the plaintiff, a direct abutter with full knowledge of the issuance of a building permit, in violation of the applicable by-law dimensional requirements, had a fair opportunity to appeal its issuance within the statutorily prescribed thirty-day time period. authority of "The Zoning Act" of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Chapter 40A of the General Laws. 4143. Southern Essex Registry of Deeds, Shetland Park, 45 Congress St., Suite 4100, Salem, MA 01970 Call Us: 978-542-1700 Therefore, this court DENIES Graham's Motion to Strike. in current Zoning By-Law document. This phrase appears to indicate that an accessory use may properly be any use of a structure or lot, regardless of its relationship to the primary purpose of the structure or lot. Deference to the Building Inspector and his interpretation of the required sideline setback of the Barn. The building inspector refused to issue a building permit for the project and the zoning board upheld that decision. Graham also argues that the Cunningham Affidavit is based on speculation and did not result from Cunningham's knowledge or inspection of Defendant Property. P. 56(c). There shall be a 5-member Planning Board elected on a rotating basis of 1 member each year for a 5-year term. 11. Revised Table of Dimensional Requirements - April 2020; Revised Table of Use Regulations; Revised Appendix C Town of Ayer 1 Main Street Ayer, MA 01432 (978) 772-8220 The Town of Ayer is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 40 , 45 (2001) (quoting Franklin v. North Weymouth Coop. An "aggrieved person" is one who will suffer a violation of a private right, property interest, or legal interest. I shall examine the Barn use issue as both an accessory use and an agricultural use. Alleged harm stemming from dimensional noncompliance, alone, is not particularized to Plaintiff, and without more evidence neither are alleged harms due to noise pollution and insect problems. /PAGE0001 Do hb```a`` + fa``t{ @ZfbqK-f rp (Emphasis added). of Correct., 434 Mass. The Zoning Map for the City of Haverhill in Massachusetts divides the city's real estate into zones based on land use and building regulations. Ordinance section 255-26 specifically identifies two classes of zoning districts for which it will apply - the R and C zoning districts; the SC district is not mentioned in any way. at 648. [Note 16]. Ct. 349 , 355 (2001). In April 2006 Graham applied for a building permit, from the Building Inspector, to construct a barn on Defendant Property. Want the latest Real Estate Zoning news in your inbox? 635 , 639 (1970); Davis v. Zoning Board of Chatham, 52 Mass. that the list is not exhaustive, and that structures which are similar in scope and function will also be permitted as of right. 427 , 431 (1949)). The City of Haverhill will be rolling out a new online permitting system starting on February 5th 2018. After examination, both affidavits appear to be based upon the expert knowledge of the affiants, based upon first-hand inspection of Plaintiff Property and Defendant Property, and Graham offers no rebuttal affidavits to dispute these claims. Ordinance Table 1, titled "Table of Use and Parking Regulations," enumerates permitted uses for each zoning district. [Note 9] Plaintiff's first request for enforcement to the Building Inspector did include a dimensional allegation, namely the height of the Barn; however, since that issue was resolved by Building Permit 2, it was not an issue appealed or decided in ZBA Decision 1. 550 , 550 (1976); Mass. See Marashlian v. Zoning Board of Appeals of Newburyport, 421 Mass. 4.1 Basic Requirements . Moreover, the plaintiff in Gallivan knew not only that the building permit had issued, but also that it permitted a dimensional violation of the local bylaw. 1999) (citing 3 Am.
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