The Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals, chaired by Joseph Pereira, held its meeting on July 16, 2026. The board began by entering a brief executive session before returning to address its agenda. Several petitions were considered, resulting in a mix of approvals, denials, and continuances. A request to table a proposal for 333 Durfee Street, involving the conversion of an auto shop into an 8-family dwelling, was granted to allow the applicant to revise plans for parking. A variance for 311 Crescent Street to divide a property and create a new lot for a single-family home was unanimously approved after the applicant addressed the board’s previous concerns about lot coverage and a retaining wall. The board also approved special permits for 70-80 Warburton Street to be subdivided into two lots, and for 422 County Street to convert a former storefront into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) by waiving a parking space requirement, a decision that passed 4-1 with Chairman Pereira dissenting due to the precedent it might set.
Further decisions included granting a special permit for Biomed Spa at 400 Rhode Island Avenue to offer cosmetic tattooing and receive parking relief, and approving a side-yard setback variance for a home addition at 1214 Watkins Street. A proposal for a 12-unit, 5-story apartment building at 637 Durfee Street was tabled at the petitioner’s request after the board expressed significant concerns about the project’s density and the number of variances required. The board denied a variance request for 0 Augusta Street to build a two-family home on a lot that did not meet the area requirements, with members noting that recent zoning changes already allowed for a single-family home to be built by right. Finally, a six-month extension was granted for a previously approved project at 2573 and 2589 South Main Street. The meeting concluded after a brief citizen input session and the approval of the previous month’s minutes.
Topics discussed
- 0:00 · Meeting Opening and Procedures
Chairman Joseph Pereira opened the meeting, introduced the board members, and outlined the rules and procedures for the hearing. - 3:48 · Executive Session
The board voted to enter a private executive session. The reason for the session was not disclosed in the public meeting. - 4:07 · Motion to delay old business items 01 and 02 and convene an executive session. — passed
Motion to delay old business items 01 and 02 and convene an executive session. - 4:49 · Motion to return to regular open session. — passed
Motion to return to regular open session. - 5:38 · Petition: 333 Durfee Street
A request to convert an auto repair shop into a 3-family dwelling was tabled until the August 20th meeting to allow the applicant to redesign the project, potentially using the lower level for parking, which would require readvertising the petition. - 7:58 · Motion to table the hearing for 333 Durfee Street until the August 20th meeting. — tabled
Motion to table the hearing for 333 Durfee Street until the August 20th meeting. - 8:34 · Petition: 311 Crescent Street
A variance was granted to divide a property, creating a new 5,480-square-foot nonconforming lot for a single-family home. The applicant presented a revised plan addressing lot coverage and the ownership of a retaining wall. - 15:22 · Motion to grant the variance as proposed for 311 Crescent Street, with the condition that the driveway can be entirely impervious. — approved
Motion to grant the variance as proposed for 311 Crescent Street, with the condition that the driveway can be entirely impervious. - 17:36 · Petition: 70 & 80 Warburton Street
A special permit was granted to subdivide a property with two existing 3-family dwellings into two separate lots, with conditions including the separation of utilities and staking of the new lot line. - 22:26 · Motion to find the proposal for 70 & 80 Warburton Street not substantially more detrimental and to grant the special permit with conditions regarding utilities, lot staking, and no ADUs. — approved
Motion to find the proposal for 70 & 80 Warburton Street not substantially more detrimental and to grant the special permit with conditions regarding utilities, lot staking, and no ADUs. - 22:26 · Motion to find the proposal for 422 County Street not substantially more detrimental and to approve the special permit as requested. — approved
Motion to find the proposal for 422 County Street not substantially more detrimental and to approve the special permit as requested. - 23:53 · Petition: 422 County Street
A special permit was granted to waive one parking space requirement to allow the conversion of a former barbershop into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in a building with no existing off-street parking. - 33:36 · Petition: 400 Rhode Island Avenue (Biomed Spa)
A special permit was granted to allow cosmetic tattooing (microblading) as an accessory use at a medical spa and to waive parking requirements, given the shared parking arrangement in the commercial plaza. - 43:51 · Motion to find the use proposed for 400 Rhode Island Avenue not substantially more detrimental and to grant the special permit, including the waiving of parking. — approved
Motion to find the use proposed for 400 Rhode Island Avenue not substantially more detrimental and to grant the special permit, including the waiving of parking. - 44:42 · Petition: 637 Durfee Street
A proposal for a 12-unit apartment building was tabled after board members expressed strong reservations about the project’s density, which required numerous variances for setbacks, lot coverage, and a reduction in required parking from 18 to 12 spaces. - 55:55 · Motion to adjourn the meeting. — passed
Motion to adjourn the meeting. - 56:05 · Motion to table the petition for 637 Durfee Street to the August meeting. — tabled
Motion to table the petition for 637 Durfee Street to the August meeting. - 58:29 · Motion to deny the variance request for 0 Augusta Street. — denied
Motion to deny the variance request for 0 Augusta Street. - 1:05:40 · Petition: 1214 Watkins Street
A variance was granted to allow an addition to a single-family home with a 10.3-foot side yard setback where 25 feet is required, due to the irregular shape of the lot. - 1:05:56 · Petition: 0 Augusta Street
A variance to build a 2-family home on an undersized lot was denied. The planning director noted that recent zoning changes allow for a single-family home (with a potential ADU) to be built on the lot by right. - 1:10:08 · Motion to grant the variance as requested for 1214 Watkins Street. — approved
Motion to grant the variance as requested for 1214 Watkins Street. - 1:10:35 · Petition: 2573 & 2589 South Main Street
A 6-month extension was unanimously granted for a previously approved variance and special permit to allow the applicant more time to complete the project. - 1:12:01 · Motion to grant the six-month extension for the previously approved relief for 2573 & 2589 South Main Street. — approved
Motion to grant the six-month extension for the previously approved relief for 2573 & 2589 South Main Street. - 1:12:28 · Citizen Input
A citizen asked about the executive session and the status of a land court case regarding Holy Name Church, but the board stated it could not discuss those matters. - 1:13:38 · Approval of Minutes
The minutes from the June 18, 2026 meeting were approved. - 1:13:44 · Motion to waive the reading of the June 18, 2026 minutes and approve them. — approved
Motion to waive the reading of the June 18, 2026 minutes and approve them.