Hubbardston ZBA Reorganizes, Defers Decisions on Two Variance Petitions

HUBBARDSTON -- January 14, 2026, Hubbardston's Zoning Board of Appeals reorganized and heard two variance petitions at its first fully staffed meeting in years. The board unanimously elected William Hmans as chair at the January 14 meeting, then took up a setback variance request from Lewis Nally of 158 Old Westminster Road, who is seeking to build a garage at a 13.3-foot setback against a required 30 feet after a disputed building permit led her to pour a foundation, and a frontage variance request from Daryl Gagny of 43 Pitcherville Road, who is asking for relief from the town's 200-foot minimum frontage requirement for a lot with only 100 feet. Attorney Christine Tree, appearing on behalf of abutter Gilbert Nevin, argued the Gagny petition fails every variance criterion under Chapter 40A, and longtime board member Al stated the board has "never granted a variance for frontage" in his four decades on the board. The board closed both hearings and voted to defer formal written decisions to a follow-up meeting set for January 20 at 6:30 p.m., before a February 26 statutory deadline.