ZBA grants 3.7-foot variance for 51 Cottage Street

Zoning Board · Meeting of July 23, 2026

BRIDGEWATER — The Zoning Board of Appeals granted a 3.7-foot side setback variance for a single-family house at 51 Cottage Street. Chairman Brian Heath, Vice Chair Anna Klimas and member Amanda Metell voted 3-0 after Klimas amended her motion from four feet to match the legal ad. Silver Engineering's Larry said wetlands leave a buildable zone only 26 feet wide on the 26,544-square-foot lot, and he said the plan allows a 30-foot-wide house with an internal garage.

Executive Assistant Nicole Salvo told the board "we cannot authorize a variance for four feet." No members of the public commented.

In the full story:

• Remote Meeting Format
• 51 Cottage Street: The Request
• The Applicants' Justification
• Neighbors and the Adverse Possession Matter
• Public Comment and Closing the Hearing
• The Notice Problem
• Vote and Outcome
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,617 words

Source: the Zoning Board meeting of July 23, 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.