ZBA Approves Scaled-Back Huron Street Permit

Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of March 17, 2026

SWAMPSCOTT — The Swampscott Zoning Board of Appeals voted 4-0 to approve a limited permit for a vertical addition at 5 Huron Street after the applicant withdrew plans to convert it into a two-family home. Attorney Ken Schroetzer represented owner Anthony Velarde, whose property was recently swept into a FEMA flood zone, triggering concern that a two-step permitting approach, exterior work now, interior conversion later, was designed to dodge a rule requiring full elevation once construction exceeds 51 percent of assessed value. Board member Andrew Rose said the plan amounted to "circumventing the FEMA law as absurd as the whole thing is." Schroetzer withdrew requests for parking relief and a screening waiver, leaving only a Section 6 "Bellotta" finding, approved unanimously.

The board also voted 4-0 to let the owner of 56 Puritan Road move a side entrance to the front to gain a parking space, with discretion for up to two first-floor windows.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Swampscott's community access TV: Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, March 17, 2026
• The complete report: 937 words

Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of March 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.