ZBA approves consolidated zoning relief for OFI home

Zoning Board of Appeals · Meeting of July 28, 2026

WALTHAM — The Waltham Zoning Board of Appeals voted 5-0 to approve consolidated zoning relief letting Opportunities for Inclusion build a nine-bedroom group home at 15 and 21 Fiske Avenue. Attorney Shawn Keefe said the petition merely reconciled two decades-old variances after OFI merged the lots. Ward 7 City Councilor Paul Katz praised the nonprofit's outreach but said the accessibility ramp sat "an inch" from a fence line and pushed for better screening and dumpster placement.

Abutters Joshua and Anjali Greenson of 12 Fairmont Avenue had filed written opposition citing case law on variance scope. After an 8:15 p.m. recess, OFI agreed to keep a privacy pergola and work with neighbors on plantings, and the board adopted the findings and decisions by roll call, Taranto, Hankins, Deveaux, Hickernell and Sergi all voting yes. The board separately granted, also 5-0, a height and coverage variance for Scott and Mandy Johnstone's garage at 337 River Street.

In the full story:

• Approval of July 14 Minutes
• Case 2026-19: Background and the Petition
• Case 2026-20: Johnstone Garage Variance
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,291 words

Source: the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting of July 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.