$126,000 fine for alleged zoning violations; Gulbankians plan to appeal ruling.

• Author: Thompson, Elaine
• Position: Local

Byline: Elaine Thompson

SOUTHBORO -- The lawyer for the Gulbankian family said he will vigorously fight a $126,600 fine imposed by the town for alleged zoning violations.

"We will be filing an appeal,'' Boston lawyer Sanford "Sandy'' Matathia said Tuesday. "We've been down this road before. The family was vindicated before. They will again. We're confident of that.''

Town Counsel Aldo A. Cipriano did not return a reporter's calls to his Marlboro office.

The town sent the Gulbankian family a letter Thursday saying the fine was imposed because one of the businesses at 40 Mount Vickery Road had been in violation of town bylaws since June 12, 2012.

Generations of the family operate three businesses at the Mount Vickery Road property, owned by the Gulbankians for nearly 100 years.

Mr. Matathia said the problems with the town arose after complaints about the bus storage operation from neighbors in a nearby condominium complex, situated on land sold by the Gulbankians.

Mr. Matathia said that in 2009 and 2010, the Zoning Board of Appeals decided that the bus operation and the other two businesses, Gulbankian Farms flower shop and J&M Machine Co., violated zoning laws. He said the town subsequently said only the machine shop was in violation.

The town determined that the family, which used to operate a bus service, had a permit to work on bus engines at the machine shop, but not to work on other kinds of engines. This is the alleged zoning violation that the fine is based on.

Mr. Matathia said the town also insisted that the machine shop be re-permitted. The permit was given with a long list of conditions, including about $200,000 worth of paving and drainage work. He said the work was not done because it was...