School bus depot variance at 59 Optical Avenue

An 82-year-old resident of 551 Marlborough Street said his home overlooks the site and already suffers asphalt plant odors; he worries bus noise and exhaust would add another layer of pollution affecting his health.

A 56-year neighborhood resident disputed the applicant's employment history figures for the site and said putting 25 buses in front of Marlborough Street homes would be a mistake that devalues properties.

A property owner with five properties and 13 grandchildren on Marlborough Street warned of traffic shortcutting, children playing in the street, devaluation of her real estate portfolio, and asked whether she too could then get her property rezoned commercial.

A repair shop owner said he spent years and thousands of dollars fighting the city for permits to build his own garage, and argued vehicle repair uses don't belong in this location.

A resident of 534 Marlborough Street argued the marked bus parking spaces are half the length of school buses, making the east-side parking layout unworkable, and raised air quality concerns for the bowl-like neighborhood.

A resident directly across from the site said the area is quiet, busy traffic and noise would hurt property values, and asked whether any probationary conditions were possible — which the board indicated were not.

A resident of 543 Marlborough Street who lives about 100 feet from the proposed bus area gave detailed testimony that sound carries clearly to his 1842 home, raised diesel exhaust concerns for his three children, and questioned the use's compatibility with the neighborhood.