Shrewsbury ZBA Grants Two Residential Variances, Sends Ford Property Back for Revisions

Zoning Board · Meeting of July 27, 2026

Shrewsbury's Zoning Board of Appeals approved residential variances for two properties and continued three others at its July 27 meeting. The four-member board unanimously granted builder Aben Athel Jabber a variance to construct a single-family cape at 15 Overlook Avenue — a 9,777-square-foot lot where 12,500 square feet is the minimum — after members found the long-dormant lot, which received its original variance in 1986, met the new practical difficulty standard that took effect under MGL Chapter 40A on July 1, 2026. Gail Galetta won approval for two variances at 24A Old Faith Road on Lake Quinsigamond to replace a deteriorating shed, with one member noting "there's quite literally nowhere else you could put it" on the narrow lakefront parcel.

The most complex matter — Daniel Ford's requests at 47 Lear Street for a pool at zero feet from his dwelling, a 40-by-40-foot garage addition at 9.3 feet from a side setback requiring 30 feet, and a front-setback special permit — was continued to August 24 after staff disclosed that submitted plans still omitted lot coverage data, an accurate dwelling classification, and notation of two potential accessory dwelling units; one member said she would have to abstain without corrected plans, effectively blocking approval on the four-member board.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,634 words

Source: the Zoning Board meeting of July 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.