Zoning board approves special permit for addition at 52 Montvale Ave, with restriction on basement use

The Woburn Zoning Board of Appeals on an evening vote granted a special permit allowing a second‑story addition at 52 Montvale Ave, conditioned to prevent the basement from becoming a separate apartment.

Attorney James Giuliano, representing homeowners Maria and (Bridal) Zekko, told the board he had supplied elevation and ceiling details since the last hearing and said the building official had confirmed by conversation that the walk‑out basement did not meet the definition of a full story. The board focused on whether the basement could be used as an independent dwelling and on how the rear elevation reads from the neighborhood.

Chairwoman (unidentified) summarized the board’s position and proposed the condition the applicants accepted: that the basement and garage area not be used as a separate living unit. ‘‘Provided we go with that stipulation, I would…move that we grant the special permit,’’ the Chairwoman said before the motion passed on a 4–1 vote.

The board questioned details in the basement plan and asked for clearer interior layouts; the applicants said walls, a laundry room and a playroom exist and that they would add the missing interior annotations to the record. Attorney Giuliano said the applicants would accept a special‑permit condition confirming the basement’s excluded use to avoid creating a third family unit.

The ruling allows the addition to move forward under the condition that the basement remain accessory to the primary dwelling; the decision requires a draft motion from counsel to be filed with the board.

The board then moved to the next agenda item.