Zoning Board Approves Deck Variance, Continues Church Case
Zoning Board · Meeting of September 15, 2026
Gardner Zoning Board OKs a deck variance, presses pause on a historic cafe plan. The board unanimously granted contractor John Harpin and owner Tony Fiorentino a six-foot setback variance for a 623 West Street deck, resolving a roughly 15-square-foot encroachment tied to a Conservation Commission wetland buffer. Members then spent most of the meeting on Chair City Church's first-ever application under the city's new historic-preservation zoning provision, seeking to turn the 1860s Henry Haywood House at 100 Central Street into a 38-seat cafe and counseling center.
Attorney Christine Tree said an accessibility elevator would cost "well over $300,000," and member Robert Rice pressed whether it's "fair" for a tax-exempt nonprofit to compete with for-profit restaurants. Historical Commission Chairman Chris Perra testified in support, calling the building one of Gardner's last intact historic mansions. The board continued the case to November, with site visits set for October 1 and October 3.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,198 words
Source: the Zoning Board meeting of September 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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