About the Zoning Board of Appeals
Purpose:
The Board is established pursuant to the provisions of Mass General Law Ch. 40, Sec. 30, MGL Ch. 40A, Sec. 14 and MGL Ch. 41, Sec. 81Z and is designated as the Zoning Board of Appeals required by MGL Ch. 40A, Sec. 12. The Board acts on Variances and Special Permits as prescribed by the rules and regulations adopted by the Zoning Board of Appeals of Wayland under the authority of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Chapter 40A, Section 12.
The Zoning By-laws provide for certain building requirements, and it is the role of the Board of Appeals to determine whether relief from these regulations is warranted in certain situations. To that end, the Board of Appeals hears, and makes decisions on applications for:
- Alteration or extension of a pre-existing, non-conforming structure or lot
- Appeals of the decisions of the Building Inspector
- Comprehensive Permits
- Special permits for the reconstruction
- Special Permits
- Variances from zoning regulations
Duties:
The Board makes every effort to consider the opinions of the petitioners, their neighbors, and other interested Town entities such as the:
- Board of Health
- Board of Selectmen
- Building Inspector
- Conservation Commission
- Historical Commission
- Planning Board
- Town Engineer