Owner seeks side-yard variances at 17 Walnut Street for First-Floor master addition; board opens public hearing

The Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 15 heard a request to permit two side-yard variances for an addition at 17 Walnut Street in the UR2/UR(?) district (application 20250734). Tonia Yasenchak of Y Engineering represented owner Pablo Berry and described a resized design that removes a previously approved rear porch and places a First-Floor master suite and mudroom within the current lot footprint.

Requested relief and rationale: The application requests a minimum interior side setback relief (required 8 feet; proposed 2–3.3 feet in places) and a total side-yard relief (required 20 feet; proposed 12.4 feet). The southern side is the active construction side; the northern side already sits very close to the property line (existing condition reported between 1.5 and 2.8 feet), so the applicant said the north-side relief may be necessary to regularize that pre-existing nonconformity even though no new work is planned on that side.

Board questions and review items: Board members asked whether the garage is being demolished (yes), whether the project will remain a one-story garage with no habitable space above (applicant said yes), and requested that building-inspector staff (Patrick) confirm which reliefs are required based on existing footprint and roof overhang measurements. The applicant noted a minor driveway-width variance request (14-foot driveway, slightly above the 25% allowance) and said the overall coverage relief is small; the board will verify calculations.

Next steps: The board opened the public hearing and left the item pending. Staff and the project team were asked to confirm existing north-side measurements, driveway percentage calculations and whether any additional relief is necessary. The applicant anticipates returning with comparables to support the proposal at a future meeting.