ZBA grants variances for garage, porch, home addition

Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of August 12, 2026

Framingham's Zoning Board of Appeals approved all three petitions before it. The board voted 3-0 to grant a variance allowing a six-vehicle accessory garage at 1015 Grove Street, where the cap is five, for applicant Theodore Anthony Jr. on a 2.7-acre lot. It also approved front and side setback variances for a 36-foot farmer's porch at 5 Ward Farm Circle for Kenneth Hickey, who said three of five neighbors already have porches.

At 5 Birch Meadow Circle, the board approved a finding and variances for lot coverage and side setbacks to add a third floor reaching 34.4 feet. Members then discussed the new "practical difficulty" variance standard in the state budget signed July 1, with one calling it "a shame" that such reform came through a budget bill.

In the full story:

• FRAMINGHAM — August 12, 2026 —
• Opening and Minutes
• 26-14: 5 Ward Farm Circle, Kenneth Hickey
• 26-15: 5 Birch Meadow Circle, Mina Zaki and Lydia Agabi Zaki
• Chapter 40A Discussion
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,028 words

Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of August 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.