On Aug. 6, 2025, the Town of Saint John Board of Zoning Appeals voted 3‑0 to approve a developmental variance to allow a 396‑square‑foot accessory structure at 929295 Chestnut Cove. The board found the variance met the municipality’s standards for developmental variances under STJMC 24‑461.

The applicants, Scott and Tracy Degraw, were represented by attorney Jim Weezer, who said the structure had been redesigned to match the primary residence’s wood architecture after discussions with the homeowners association. "I'm here tonight to represent them relative to the request for the variance," Weezer said. He told the board the building was intended in part for storage related to a planned swimming pool and said, "we believe that they meet the criteria of the state statute" for granting a developmental variance.

Board members discussed the advertised size (396 square feet) and confirmed the agenda typo that originally listed 369 square feet. No remonstrance letters or members of the public opposed the request during the hearing. The board’s motion to approve included the required findings of fact that the variance would not injure public health, safety or welfare, would not substantially reduce adjacent property values and that strict application of the ordinance would cause practical difficulties. The motion passed 3‑0.

The item was taken up during the public hearings portion of the Aug. 6 meeting and included testimony from the applicants and their attorney; no additional public commenters spoke in opposition. The approved variance modifies the 250‑square‑foot total accessory‑structure limit in STJMC 24‑461 for this parcel.