Somerville ZBA Continues Backyard Cottage Appeal, Heat Pump Variance to June

Zoning Board · Meeting of May 20, 2026

Somerville's Zoning Board of Appeals continued two cases without a vote at its May 20 meeting, most notably deferring a dispute over whether a historic barn can block a newly permitted backyard cottage. Appellant Thomas Higdon of 23 Avon Street argued in a detailed slide presentation that his pre-1900 barn, measured at roughly 17 feet tall, qualifies as a backyard cottage accessory building under the city's 2019 zoning ordinance and therefore triggers a mandatory 10-foot building separation requirement from the under-construction cottage next door at 24 Berkeley Street, which he placed at only 6.5 to 6.6 feet away. Property owner Paul Fombell said his team worked with ISD and planning for months before receiving permits in December and had not been formally notified of the appeal until the prior week, requesting a continuance to secure legal counsel.

Board members including Zachary Zaremba said they wanted ISD present before voting, and Chair Orsola Susan Fontano noted the board could not vote without at least four members in agreement. The board voted unanimously to continue the case to June 17, 2026, citing a 100-day statutory deadline that staff said they would confirm, with all new materials due two weeks prior.

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Source: the Zoning Board meeting of May 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.