Berlin ZBA Approves Special Permit for Auto Repair Shop on Old Central Street

Zoning Board · Meeting of April 8, 2026

Berlin's Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved a special permit and site plan for a three-bay automotive repair garage at 320 Old Central Street. Chair Lynn Ryan led the 4-0 vote at the April 8 meeting after applicant representative Scott Hayes addressed outstanding questions from the March 11 hearing, including a correction to the parking calculation that brought the required exterior spaces from a deficient count up to the bylaw minimum of 10 for the 2,000-square-foot building. The lot, a combined parcel of 20,850 square feet against an 80,000-square-foot commercial minimum, qualified for the maximum 2,000-square-foot gross floor area under Section 621.1 of the zoning bylaw governing preexisting non-conforming lots.

Conditions include a 50 percent green area requirement, lot combination, private waste removal, all-evergreen screening plantings, and operating hours capped at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The permit does not take effect until filed with the Registry of Deeds following a 20-day abutter notification period.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,125 words

Source: the Zoning Board meeting of April 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.