On Jan. 16, 2025, the Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance allowing the estate of Ronald Chouinard to subdivide 7 Duluth Street into two parcels, subject to conditions requiring site-plan review for stormwater mitigation and compliance with zoning for the new lot.

Attorney Mark L. Levin represented Kimberly J. Smith, personal representative of the estate. Levin said the parcel has historic lot configurations dating to the 1950s and that the proposed new Lot 2 would contain about 5,289 square feet while the existing house would remain on a 5,275-square-foot lot. He asked the board to waive area and frontage requirements under Ordinance 86-35 for the R8 single-family district.

Planning staff supported the petition with a request that the applicant mitigate stormwater runoff for Parcel 1 to compensate for increased lot coverage. The board’s approval included a condition that Lot 2’s building conform to all zoning requirements and that no conveyance of the new parcel occur prior to completion of site-plan review that addresses drainage mitigation for Lot 1.

The motion passed unanimously with votes recorded as: Eric Kelly — yes; Dan DuPere — yes; James Calkins — yes; Alexis — yes; Chairman Ferrera — yes.