ZBA requires flat roof for garage variance

Board of Appeals · Meeting of October 22, 2026

LEXINGTON — The Lexington Zoning Board of Appeals continued a contested garage variance at 213 East Street to December 10, requiring a flat roof confined to the structure's footprint. Chair Ralph D. Clifford told applicant Mallikarjun Sundaram Srivatsan, who seeks the 16-foot garage to help a disabled relative enter and exit a vehicle, that "nothing but the garage can go in past the setback line." Alternate Member Thomas Shiple compared the proposal to narrower single-car garages elsewhere in town, some with interior widths "as low as 10 feet two and a half inches," while Building Commissioner Jim Kelly said a 16-foot width is "really necessary for good mobility" under ADA standards. The board also continued a 25 Maple Street earth-removal permit to December 10, reelected Chair Clifford, Vice Chair Nyles N. Barnert and Clerk James A. Osten by acclamation, and voted 5-0 to cancel its February 2027 meeting due to expected scheduling conflicts with Town Meeting and candidates' night.

In the full story:

• Call to Order and Procedural Overview
• 213 East Street Variance Hearing (ZBA-26-16)
• 25 Maple Street Earth-Removal Permit (ZBA-26-9)
• Board Reorganization
• 2027 ZBA Calendar
• Minutes and Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,927 words

Source: the Board of Appeals meeting of October 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.