Norwood Couple Questions Legality of New Access Road Built Next to Their Sumner Street Home-August 8, 1978

Anita and Joseph Fraone Appeal to Planning Board After Discovering an Unanticipated Right-of-Way and Manufacturing-Zoned Land Abutting Their Property

Anita and Joseph Fraone looked out the window of their two-family home at 99 Sumner St. one day recently and found themselves watching a bulldozer carve out a new access road between their property and the house next door. For the past few weeks, the couple has made the rounds of town officialdom, attempting to ascertain how the home they purchased new just two years prior had suddenly transformed into a corner lot. After visiting various municipal departments where they felt “people kept passing the buck,” the Fraones appeared before the Planning Board last night after learning the board had supposedly approved the right-of-way.

Although the matter remains unresolved, it appears the board may have approved a subdivision plan in 1975 that included the roadway. Unknown to the young couple when they bought the house from John Croke, the right-of-way existed adjacent to their property, leading to rear land owned by Frederick Quattrucci that is partly zoned for manufacturing. Furthermore, the Fraones were unaware that a strip of their own backyard abutting the Quattrucci parcel was zoned for manufacturing use. Board members debated whether a formal subdivision plan was approved prior to construction or if the parcel was handled as a “subdivision not required” proposal due to existing street frontage. Board member E. William Bamber noted, “If he has the frontage and the square footage, there is not anything we can do. It is the same as if you had a house on a corner lot.” However, if classified otherwise, Quattrucci would require approval from the Zoning Board of Appeal.

Expressing deep concern that the proximity of the road would ruin their property value and pose a hazard for young children, Mrs. Fraone stated, “We just want to know what rights he [Quattrucci] has been given in our neighborhood and on our land.” The Planning Board agreed to have its secretary thoroughly research historical records and report back to the family. In unrelated agenda items during the same session, the board endorsed a “subdivision not required” plan for 95,000 square feet of land owned by Beaver Coal & Oil Co. at East Hoyle St. and Broadway, presented by attorney Bernard J. Monbouquette. Additionally, the board endorsed a plan for the formal abandonment of Winter Street to Norwood Hospital to facilitate future campus needs. (Reporting by local archives).

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger