Parmenter v. Board of Appeals

Washington Mills Abrasives Co., Inc. (Mills) owned land (locus) in Grafton west of, or near, the boundary between a residential zone and an industrial zone. Mills, apparently in doubt whether the zone boundary crossed the locus, sought a special permit to build an additional warehouse. This the board of appeals granted, stating its view that the whole locus was intended to be in an industrial zone. The plaintiffs, property owners and taxpayers in Grafton, filed an appeal to the Superior Court under G. L. c. 40A, § 21. On substantial evidence, which is reported, the trial judge justifiably…