Residents Seek Zoning Change to Protect Homes

– Allison  Goldsberry

Tonight the Community Development Board will hold a public hearing  at 6PM at City Hall to discuss changing the zoning to residential for eight homes that currently sit in a commercial zone on Bonner and Alexander Avenues.

Residents discovered their property was in a commercial district during intense discussions last summer with developers of a drive-through Dunkin Donuts on Mystic Avenue.

Phyllis Bucco-Notaro said the homeowners were never aware their homes were in a commercial zone and have always paid residential taxes.

Neighbors became wary after the developers bought two homes, demolishing one to make way for a larger building and eying another for an employee parking lot.  They decided to change the zoning for those eight homes to prevent more from being snapped up for commercial use.

The Dunkin Donuts development has been a point of contention with the neighborhood due to concerns over traffic and parking.

If the Community Development Board is in favor of the zoning change it will go to the City Council for approval.

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