Mary Dooley asked the Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 15 for multiple area variances at 14 Ritchie Place in the UR1 district to allow replacement and enlargement of a front porch, reconstruction and a second-story addition over the rear kitchen, and relief for coverage and side-yard requirements.

What was requested: The application lists several variances: maximum combined lot coverage from 28% to 31% (3% relief); side setback reduced from 12 feet to 10 feet on one side (2 feet relief); total side-yard requirement from 30 feet to 25.5 feet (5.5 feet relief); and a front setback relief from the required 30 feet to 14 feet (16 feet relief, ~54%). The front-porch footprint is presently grandfathered at about 13.8 feet from the front property line and Dooley said removal and replacement of the porch could trigger loss of grandfathering and thus require the variance in advance of construction.

Board response and homework: Board members said the request raised mass-and-scale concerns because the work could increase the house’s size toward neighboring properties. Members asked the applicant to submit comparables — photographs or parcel map snips showing neighboring houses’ mass, set-backs and frontage — to demonstrate the proposal is compatible with neighborhood character. The board asked that comparables or online assessor maps be emailed to staff prior to the next hearing. The applicant said she had solicited neighbor letters and would supply them and the requested comparables.

Public hearing and next steps: The board opened public comment and left the public hearing open; members said the applicant’s additional materials could allow a resolution to be prepared for the Sept. 29 meeting if staff receives the comparables, neighbor signatures and any updated plans.