RACHEL RAVINA/ BAYSIDE GAZETTE
A building is demolished on 2 Stevenson Lane in Berlin. Busi- ness owner Ernest Girardi dis- cussed his plans to revamp the property to include first-floor busi- nesses with two-story apartments atop the retail space during a Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals meeting last Wednesday.

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(July 18, 2019) The Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals for approved a variance request for a proposed business and residential project on Stevenson Lane in at its meeting last Wednesday.

Before start of the hearing, Chairman Joe Moore identified a potential conflict of interest because he’s representing business owner and applicant Ernest Girardi on another case in Worcester County. Vice-Chairman Woody Bunting also said he’s working with Girardi on another property. Both offered to recuse themselves for the vote, but there were no objections as they were not directly involved on this matter.

Girardi requested relief from the setback requirements for the property, which falls short of the required depth in the front of the parcel.

Planning Director Dave Engelhart added Girardi plans to demolish the current structure and rebuild it to include two-story apartments atop the first floor businesses.

“I want it to look nice,” Girardi said.

Carol Rose, chairwoman of Berlin’s Historic District Commission, testifying as a citizen of the town, supported Girardi during the public comment portion of the meeting.

“I feel strongly that if he gets through everything and comes to us, we would approve it,” she said. “It certainly is going to be an asset to that street and much better than what was.”

Board of Zoning Appeals member Jay Knerr acknowledged that the parcel’s configuration does create a problem for Girardi and his venture.

“Well, I do agree this is a difficult lot to develop,” Knerr said.

Her then moved to approve the variance request, which board member Woody Bunting seconded. The vote was unanimous.