Zoning Board of Appeals

Purpose and Mission:

Sunderland’s Zoning By-Laws are enacted to promote the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Sunderland, to conserve the value of land and buildings, to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the Town and to preserve and increase its amenities, all as authorized by the provisions of the Zoning Act, Chapter 40A of the Annotated Laws of Massachusetts.

Under Chapter 40A, the Zoning Board of Appeals has the power to hear and decide applications of Special Permits, to hear and decide petitions for Variances and hear and decide other appeals.

The Board consists of five full members and three associate members in order to achieve a five-member quorum to decide each case. The duty and mission of the Zoning Board of Appeals is to interpret and apply Sunderland’s Zoning By-Laws those cases that come before us.