Nonprofit Opportunities for Inclusion building disability-accessible group home

Opportunities for Inclusion, a local disability services organization, cleared a major hurdle with the Zoning Board of Appeals at the board’s Tuesday meeting. The organization plans to combine its Fiske Avenue headquarters with an adjoining property and redesign the building into an accessible group home.

OFI received variances decades ago to build close to the rear lot line. OFI’s attorney argued the case under the Dover Amendment, a state law that lets education-related nonprofits bypass many local zoning rules.

Multiple neighbors, along with Ward 7 Councilor Paul S. Katz, attended the hearing to bring up concerns about specific design choices in the new building.

Board members said repeatedly that the Dover Amendment left them little authority over those choices. As the discussion grew heated, Chair John Sergi called a brief recess so neighbors and OFI representatives could talk privately.

Afterward, the attorney said OFI would keep working with immediate neighbors on some design elements, and the board voted unanimously to grant the variances.

Board pushes back on neighborhood objections

Katz summarized neighbors’ concerns: an accessibility ramp positioned close to the rear lot line, insufficient turning space for wheelchair users, privacy screening for the backyard deck and the placement of a proposed dumpster. He asked the ZBA to delay the variances, giving OFI time to consult with abutters.

Katz said he supports OFI’s work and appreciated its outreach so far. Although the nonprofit is not required to notify neighbors before building a group home, it had already met with them.

OFI’s attorney said the design team found some changes requested by neighbors to be infeasible, but had made others, including adding a pergola to screen the back deck. He added that the building fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Several board members noted that OFI must meet additional safety requirements from the health and building departments, and that most of the neighbors’ requests were beyond the board’s authority.

As the meeting continued, some board members grew frustrated.

“This is a project that only has X amount of dollars to be built … You’re asking them to spend X thousands to tens of thousands of dollars to make a different ramp design, and change this and change that,” said board member Matthew Deveaux, who stated he wasn’t willing to delay the case. “Everybody is saying that they support what [OFI does], but they don’t want it in their backyard.”

Associate board member Sarah Hankins agreed, saying that OFI had already offered outreach beyond what the ZBA could require. “This is a nonprofit,” she said. “These guys can go through the Dover Amendment and not even spend a penny on this, and they’ve already had to spend money. You guys should be falling over yourselves grateful.”

River Street garage

The board also unanimously approved a request from River Street homeowners to build a detached garage larger and taller than its zoning district allows.

Bret Francis, the homeowners’ attorney, said that the district’s height limits on accessory buildings don’t allow a gabled-roof garage big enough for some modern cars. He said the applicants don’t plan to use the garage as an accessory dwelling unit, noting they could build a two-family home by right.