Developing on unusable lot in Boston

[Cheng Bin Zhang]

Hi All,

We recently purchased a property with an adjacent lot on the property.  The lot (just over 1600sqft) is not compliant by current Boston zoning standards for development but there are certainly "skinny-mini" townhouses that have been grandfathered into the system.  I'm assuming any permit to build will have to go through variance which can be a lengthy process.

From my standpoint, it's too big of a "yard" to be maintaining in a crowded city hungry for housing.  Not sure if anyone within Mass or Boston specifically had dealt with issue similar to this?  Where would you recommend I start?  Are there good literature/sources available?

Thanks!

Cheng