For information on public hearings, agendas, etc.  please look in the green column on the left. You may have to scroll down to see the Zoning Board of Appeals and select another page.

The Board of Appeals is a permit granting authority appointed by the Board of Selectmen and has all of the powers and duties proscribed under Chapter 40A of the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended and as allocated under Section 12 of the Zoning By-Laws of the Town of Wrentham.

The Board of Appeals may:

• hear and decide applications for Variances with respect to land or structures,
• hear and decide applications for Special Permits, and
• hear and decide appeals from decisions of administrative officials of the town made under the Zoning By-laws

The Board of Appeals is also the permit granting authority under Chapter 40B 20-23 of the Massachusetts General Laws, to hear and act on applications for low and moderate income housing.

The Board of Appeals must act within the time constraints and specifications of the General Laws and the Zoning By-laws. The Board of Appeals may impose conditions, safeguards, and/or limitations as part of its approval of any application.

Pursuant to Section 5 of Chapter 40A MGL, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on November 2, 2011 at 7:15 PM in the Second Floor Conference Room of the Wrentham Town Hall, 79 South Street on a proposed amendment to the Wrentham Zoning Bylaws to allow the ZBA to act as SPGA under Article 15.6 (Aquifer Protection District) when reviewing applications associated with Article 3.4 (Non-Conforming Uses).
 
Copies of said amendments may be reviewed in the Planning Office or the Town Clerk’s Office during posted hours.  All are invited to attend.

George R. Smith Jr., Clerk
Wrentham Planning Board

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An applicant will submit two checks:

• One check to The Sun Chronicle for $115.00 for advertising and

• One check for either $100.00 for residential uses or $200.00 for commercial uses to the Town of Wrentham to pay the administrative costs of processing the application.

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All exhibits presented at the Public Hearings for the Woods at Wrentham Comprehensive Permit are available in the Public Hearing Notices section under Zoning Board of Appeals. This hearing has been continued to Wednesday, October 12, 2011.

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Tuesday    8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
                  5:00 p.m.  - 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday    9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Thursday    11:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday        8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Wrentham Zoning Board of Appeals meets on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month in the Meeting Room on the second floor at the Town Hall. All meetings start at 7:30 pm.

If the meeting day is a public holiday, the Board will not meet on that day. These changes are posted with the Town Clerk's office on the second floor of the Town Hall at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

All meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

Aquifer Protection Districts protect the town's water supply by protecting the contributing aquifers to the town's well sites. These aquifers are delineated on the town's Aquifer Protection District map.

The Town of Wrentham is divided in zoning districts each with its own distinct regulations and requirements. The eight zoning districts are: R-30, R-43, R-87, B-1, B-2, C-1, C-2 and CRSP. Zoning districts are delineated on the Zoning Map.

Click this link to the Planning Board site (under Forms and Documents) if you would like to view the Town of Wrentham Zoning Bylaws.

Would you like to see an Aerial View of your property?

When are ZBA meetings held?
Meetings of the Zoning Board of Appeals are normally held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the second floor Town Hall Meeting Room.  These meetings are open to the public.

How do I start the application process?
Please contact the Building Inspector first.

Where can I find application forms and other pertinent information?
All documents are available from the Building Department, Town Clerk’s Office, the Zoning Board office, and online at www. wrentham.ma.us.

What are the fees?
$150 for Special Permit, Variance, and Administrative Appeal Applications.  Chapter 40B Application Fees  are $750 and $10 for every unit.

Why doesn’t the applicant start with the ZBA Office?
The Building Inspector is the Zoning Enforcement Officer who determines whether an applicant even needs to appear before the ZBA.

What is the next step after filling out the Application forms?
The applicant files the completed forms with the Town Clerk.

When is the Applicant scheduled for a Public Hearing?
The ZBA must schedule a Public Hearing within 65 days from the time the application is filed with the Town Clerk. Normally the hearing is scheduled about a month after the filing.

How does the Application get advertised in the paper?
The ZBA arranges for the applicant’s request to be advertised in The Sun Chronicle for the two weeks prior to the public hearing date.

Who notifies the abutters?
The ZBA mails each abutter a public hearing notice about two weeks before the hearing.

Why does the applicant have to wait 21 days after the Board’s Decision?
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A allows a 20 day appeal period for any party aggrieved by a decision of the ZBA to file his/her appeal.

Why does the applicant need a certified copy of the Decision?
The Registry of Deeds in Dedham will only record a certified copy of the Decision.

When is the Decision effective?
The Decision is effective when you have filed the Decision at the Registry of Deeds. You must still obtain a Building Permit from the Building Department before starting construction.

How do I file for a Building Permit?
The Applicant must bring proof (Norfolk Registry of Deeds Receipt) to the Building Department that a certified copy of the Decision has been recorded at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds. 

How long is the Special Permit or Variance effective?
Special Permits shall lapse after two years and Variances shall lapse after one year, unless substantial use or construction has commenced or applications for extensions have been filed with the ZBA prior to the expiration date.

The Department of Housing and Community Development

Massachusetts Citizen Planner Training Collaborative