Page 4 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2026 ~ OP-ED ~ Revere ZBA’s Nearly 90% Approval Rate Warrants a Closer Look By Councillor-At-Large Michelle Kelley N early 90% of applications brought before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) over the past fi ve years have been approved, based on decision records provided by the City Clerk. That fi gure alone does not tell the whole story, but it does suggest that approvals are the norm and that a closer look at how these decisions are made is warranted. At a recent Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) hearing, a variance was requested to allow a driveway within 20 feet of one of the busiest intersections in the city. 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only:Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & W Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook!Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! The City Engineer provided a written opinion stating that the proposed confi guration would create a very unsafe condition. That concern was presented to the ZBA and entered into the record. A similar concern regarding the driveway layout was also raised in a letter from the prior property owner. Nevertheless, the variance was granted. The ZBA is an appointed, unelected body. This is not about one project. It raises a broader concern about how decisions are made and how concerns are weighed. When documented safety concerns are presented, the public reasonably expects that those concerns will play a meaningA fter a several year hiatus, the Polar Plunge returned www.810bargrille.com to Revere Beach last week. The plunge raises money for Special Olympics Massachusetts, and it is also a great community-building event. Over 150 people plunged in support this year and the event was featured on the local news, too. RTV interviewed organizers and got footage of participants taking the plunge — along with the fundraising award ceremony. Who got the coveted golden plunger award? Watch the exclusive RevereTV coverage on the Community Channel through the month of April, or anyful role in the outcome. Based on ZBA decision records provided by the City Clerk, 175 of 196 decided applications between 2020 and the present were approved, representing 89.29%. While each case is unique, such a high approval rate suggests that approvals are the norm rather than the exception. This makes it all the more important to understand how decisions are reached, particularly in cases involving safety concerns. Residents take the time to participate in these hearings, present information, and engage in the process. When concerns are raised on the record, there is a reasonable expectation that they will be meaningfully considered. When outcomes appear unchanged despite those concerns, it can create the perception that participation has little impact on the result and, therefore, further weaken what little trust in the process remains. This is not about opposing development. It is about transparency and ensuring that public safety concerns are fully and fairly considered in decisions that shape our neighborhoods. A nearly 90% approval rate alone warrants closer scrutiny and a more transparent review of how zoning decisions are being made, so that public confi dence in those entrusted to make them can begin to be restored. RevereTV Spotlight time at your convenience, as it’s posted to YouTube. In case you missed it, March was Women’s History Month. Revere Public Schools (RPS) released the fourth episode of its storytelling series, “From Where We Come,” on the RevereTV Community Channel. This week’s episode features five leaders whose personal stories show the strength, resilience and dedication that are still shaping the RPS community. This episode brings the celebration closer to home by telling the stories of Christina Porter, the Director of English Language Arts; Nancy Martel, the Principal of Hill Elementary School; Shay St. Laurent, the Deputy Principal of Revere High School; Raisa Builes, the School Resource Officer; and Stacey Mulligan, the Principal of CityLab High School. Watch this RPS Women’s History Month special episode on RevereTV for the next few weeks. This week on “In the Loop,” the Revere Department of Public Health has another anRevereTV | SEE Page 6 Spring is Here! 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 67 Years in Business! n Roofing fng
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