Marshfield ZBA Approves Ocean Street Mixed-Use Permit Over Two Abstentions

Zoning Board · Meeting of July 7, 2026

Marshfield ZBA approves five special permits, splits over contested 1952 Ocean Street mixed-use history. The board's most contentious vote approved a special permit allowing Alexi Realty LLC owner Edmund Mata to convert office space at 2036 Ocean Street into two additional two-bedroom apartments, bringing the building's total to three residential units alongside a reduced 962-square-foot commercial office, on a 4-0 vote with members Stephen Lynch and Eric Murphy abstaining. Lynch argued that 1983 ZBA meeting minutes showed the board at that time intended to phase out the residential use as office needs expanded, telling the board "if I'm going to follow the law here, I can't vote yes on this," while Chair Brian Murphy and Zoning Enforcement Administrator Andrew countered that the building permit was closed with the residence in place and the assessor's card has listed the property as mixed-use since 1952.

Town Counsel noted the ambiguity in the 1983 language did not favor a denial under the town's permissive nonconforming-use bylaw. The board also unanimously approved a special permit and site plan for SHM Green Harbor to demolish and relocate its dilapidated marina electrical building at 239 Dyke Road away from the bulkhead and limit of moderate wave action zone, and continued a 16,000-square-foot speculative industrial building at 125 Commerce Way to July 28 after an abutter raised concerns about a 12-foot retaining wall on the shared boundary and the Board of Health flagged the absence of a percolation test.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report, 3,520 words

Source: the Zoning Board meeting of July 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.