Board approves variances to allow rear addition at 104 Roland Road

The Fairfield Zoning Board of Appeals voted April 3 to grant variances for a rear addition at 104 Roland Road that retains the existing sum of side-yard setbacks at 17.8 feet and increases lot coverage from 17.5% to 22.6%. The homeowners, David and Elizabeth Hibbs, represented by architect Jennifer Huestis, presented the request.

Huestis told the board the house, built in 1929, sits on a nonconforming lot with a reduced square footage and frontage; she said the proposed addition “would be in line with the existing home and will not encroach further into the setbacks or increase the pre existing nonconformity.” The application requested relief under zoning regulation sections 5.2.0.4 (sum of side yards) and 5.2.0.5 (lot coverage). Huestis added the property sits in a FEMA flood zone and that the proposed floor-area ratio would remain under the allowable maximum: “The proposed FAR on the property is only 31%, where the allowable is 40%.”

Board members asked few questions. No members of the public registered opposition at the hearing. During the meeting’s roll call, the board approved the two variances by majority vote.

The approval authorizes the owners to proceed with the rear addition as presented; building permits and FEMA compliance reviews will be required before construction begins.