The Rome Zoning Board of Appeals on Oct. 1 approved an area variance permitting a driveway to be paved to within 1 foot of the eastern property line at 744 West Dominic Street.

The property is in a C-1 district and the request seeks a reduction from the three-foot minimum side-yard driveway setback required under Rome zoning code Section 80-14.7. The applicant, Nick Tataro, said he plans to pave the area between the garage and the easternmost lot line to widen an existing driveway, improve winter access and reduce snow banks pushed onto his yard.

No members of the public spoke on the application. The United County Department of Planning submitted a memo dated Sept. 4, 2025, that provided no recommendation. After the board reviewed the five statutory variance standards read into the record, members voted 5-0 to approve the variance. Board members recorded their votes in favor; the presiding member noted the applicant should coordinate permitting with Mark Domenico in the Codes Enforcement Office.

Tataro described the proposed work as extending paving to the back of the garage and leaving the existing concrete garage threshold in place. He said the work aims to reduce the need for annual lawn repair where snow and plowing have damaged the side lawn and to create easier vehicle access. The hour-long hearing recorded no conditions, amendments or opposing testimony.

The variance allows paving to within one foot of the lot line; the applicant must secure any required building, paving or curb-cut permits from the Codes Enforcement Office before construction begins.