Board rejects addition of two new units to Roxbury condo project previously approved for four

The Zoning Board of Appeal today rejected a proposal to increase the size of an approved condo building at 14 Schuyler St., not because of the merits of the proposal but because of the way it came before the board without a public-comment process on the changes.

The board actually voted 4-3 for the proposal to make the approved four-unit condo building a six-unit building - with one unit sold as affordable, but state law requires five votes for approval. The board then voted unanimously to reject the proposal without prejudice, which means property owner Sathuan Sa can reapply for approval within a year.

Sa sought board approval to add two new units under a process normally only used for minor changes to an approved project, or even just typos on official forms and permits - something that does not require the city's normal process of abutter and neighborhood meetings.

Board member Hansy Better Barraza, one of the three board members who voted against the request for the addition, said she could not vote for a project that had not gone through the public process. Board Chairwoman Sherry Dong and member Norm Stembridge also voted against the proposal.

Sa's attorney, Mike Ross said said his client had to expand the proposal, which would have meant an increase of about 600 square feet in size, due to finances. Sa had initially proposed a nine-unit building before shrinking it to the four units approved by the zoning board.