Zoning Board approves four housing projects
Chelsea's Zoning Board of Appeals approved four housing redevelopment variances and special permits while tabling a contested Walmart delivery depot and a $113 million airport garage plan.
Zoning Board · Meeting of August 11, 2026
Chelsea's Zoning Board of Appeals approved four housing redevelopment variances and special permits while tabling a contested Walmart delivery depot and a $113 million airport garage plan. Chair Janice Tatarka's board unanimously cleared projects at 37 Central Ave., 1 Lafayette Ave., and 52 Suffolk St., the latter the first case decided under the state's newly simplified variance standard. Residents packed the meeting to oppose Walmart Real Estate Business Trust's proposed 121 Webster Ave.
"Depot," a 24,000-square-foot delivery-only fulfillment site; resident Alyssa Garza called it "not a supermarket... a private warehouse." City Manager Fidel Maltese separately touted Interpark's proposed 111 Eastern Ave. garage, citing $3 million in projected annual tax revenue and a $750,000 community mitigation payment. A Lisa Lane resident, Dan Bartzley, alleged a city councilor had an undisclosed personal interest in a nearby special-permit case. Both the Walmart and garage matters return September 8 after Planning Board review.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,643 words
Source: the Zoning Board meeting of August 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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