The Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals denied a special permit and variance request to build a high rise housing development more than double the size allowed in the historic Commercial Mill District on Weaver Street.

The ZBA unanimously denied Abbott & Farnham LLC’s request to waive front, side and rear setbacks, as well as building height and parking requirements at 100 Weaver Street after the board granted the applicant four continuances over a period of six months to gather more information.

Responding to initial public reaction to the original proposal for a 14-story, 346-unit building, the project was scaled back to 296 units and 11-stories at the Dec. 15, 2022, meeting without any plans reflecting the changes submitted to the ZBA for review.

The Preservation Society released a position statement opposing the special permit and variance request for 100 Weaver Street in June 2022.

Background

The Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special permit request for a 192 unit, six-story, senior market rate housing apartment building in a Commercial Mill District at 100 Weaver Street in June 2019. At the Dec. 15, 2022, ZBA meeting, Attorney Thomas Killoran, who represented the applicant, told the board that the senior housing project was no longer financially feasible.