The Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town of Norwood approved a special permit April 1 to allow an addition at 18 Briarwood Lane that the applicant said would increase the home's habitable area to about 31.5%, exceeding the 25% threshold in the zoning bylaw.

The permit was requested under section 5.4 of the Norwood zoning bylaw. The board approved the motion to “approve as presented” after closing the public hearing; the motion was moved by Shannon, seconded by Matt and recorded as passing with four affirmative votes (Dan — yes; Matt — yes; Shannon — yes; Rachel — yes). The board rules require four votes of five members for the items before it.

Brian Aaron, who said he was the contractor and was representing the Drakefords, told the board the addition would be roughly a 31.5% increase in habitable area — "which I think is about 364 square feet," he said — and that the addition would not exceed the house ridgeline. Aaron also noted the structure is pre‑existing, nonconforming in frontage and left side setback and in lot area. Board members confirmed the proposed work meets side‑setback and height considerations discussed at the hearing; one member noted the side setback was measured at 15.4 feet where 15 is required.

No members of the public offered comment during the hearing. In deliberations, board members said the addition would not make the property more nonconforming on frontage or side setbacks and would occur primarily at the rear of the property, and expressed that the proposal appeared consistent in scale with neighboring houses. The chair closed the public hearing before the vote.

The action grants the applicant the requested special‑permit relief under Norwood zoning bylaw section 5.4 to allow an increase in habitable area above the 25% threshold; the board did not record any additional conditions on the permit during the meeting.

Plans related to the application remain on file with the Zoning Board of Appeals and may be requested from the town’s community development email listed in the hearing notice.