Whether a developer will be allowed to build a two-story apartment building in Hampden or be sent back to the drawing boards is in the hands of a city zoning board.

The Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals heard arguments Tuesday about granting variances to allow a 10-unit apartment building at 3400 Roland Avenue, and its decision is expected to be available Wednesday morning.   

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and three neighbors testified against allowing the variances because they object to the amount of people that would be able to rent new apartments.

"It’s a whole lot of units stuck on a triangular hill at the end of a very densely populated block," Clarke said.

Joseph Rabinowitz, the project’s developer, and his attorney, Herbert Burgunder, argued that the variances are being sought to help keep the new building in line with the architecture of the surrounding neighborhood.   

By right the developer could build a taller building with 10 units, but has instead sought to build a wider shorter building in part to meet requests made by the Hampden Community Council’s Zoning Committee.

Last month the Hampden Community Council narrowly voted to support the variances.

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