ZBA permits 8-by-10 shed to encroach into front setback at 121 Linwood Street

The Nashua Zoning Board of Adjustment on Sept. 23 granted a variance allowing an 8-by-10-foot shed to encroach 7 feet into the required 20-foot front-yard setback on the Brewster Street side of 121 Linwood Street, the board said. The applicant identified himself in testimony as Andreas Quintero.

Quintero told the board he and his wife recently had a newborn and need space to store a snowblower and seasonal equipment because their single-car garage must remain accessible for vehicle storage. He said the rear yard floods and slopes in winter — “I get 3 to 4 inches of water, maybe more,” he testified — and that placing the shed on the Brewster-side corner is the only practical option for year-round access. He said the shed would be an 8-by-10 model built by Reeds Ferry.

Board members said the lot’s unusual orientation — effectively three street-facing sides — and the documented drainage and slope issues distinguished the property from typical parcels and supported a hardship finding. Member JP Boucher, who said he is familiar with the neighborhood, noted the rear yard’s history of flooding and that the proposed shed footprint had been staked on the site, which made the request more concrete.

The board’s motion found the variance would not be contrary to the public interest, the spirit of the ordinance would be observed, and substantial justice would be done. The motion also recorded that the board had received no testimony showing a diminution in surrounding property values. The motion to approve was made by JP Boucher and was seconded; the variance carried on the affirmative votes of members present.

As with the other case on the agenda, the chair reminded the applicant of a 30-day appeal period before the decision becomes final for permitting purposes.