ZBA approves ADU parking waiver at 422 County Street despite limited vehicular access

The Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals on July 16 approved a waiver of the off‑street parking requirement for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 422 County Street, acknowledging the site’s unusual constraints.

Jeff Bowman, engineer for 4 22 County Street LLC, described an existing storefront with no vehicular access and limited opportunities to construct a parking space without extensive grading and retaining walls. Bowman said converting the old storefront to an ADU would require waiving the single off‑street parking spot normally required for an ADU because the site’s grades and stair access make on‑lot parking impractical.

Planning staff noted the board’s prior practice of not waiving required parking when a lot currently provides zero off‑street parking for an existing use, and that the 6‑family nearby would have required 12 spaces by calculation. Board members asked whether grading could create a space; planning and engineering said such work would be expensive and may require retaining walls and significant cost. After discussion and no public opposition, the board bifurcated consideration where appropriate and approved the special‑permit relief for the ADU conversion as requested.

The approval recognizes the site constraints and does not establish a blanket precedent; board members emphasized the case‑specific nature of the waiver.