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Board allows guest-house conversion at 517 Thames Street with leased parking condition
Summary
The Zoning Board granted a dimensional variance to 517 Dame Street LLC to convert a dwelling into a two-bedroom guest house in the Waterfront Business District, conditioned on an annual lease for one parking space at Brown and Howard Wharf; the vote was unanimous.
The Newport Zoning Board of Review unanimously approved a dimensional variance on March 24 that allows 517 Thames Street LLC to convert an upper-floor dwelling into a two-bedroom guest house without adding on-site parking; the board required an annual leased parking space at Brown and Howard Wharf as a condition.
Attorney William Anthony Jr. presented the petition and told the board the property has had short-term rentals since the early 2000s and that on-site parking is infeasible because the building footprint occupies roughly half the lot; the applicant had procured a leased spot at Brown and Howard Wharf, about a five‑minute walk away.
Planner Nancy Latender reiterated earlier testimony that Thames Street historically accommodated transient residential uses and that multimodal access and off-site leasing are reasonable mitigations where on-site parking cannot be provided. The board’s motion required the parking lease to be in place annually and included the usual project timing and public-noticing payment conditions.
Board members said the lot size and configuration demonstrated the hardship for a dimensional variance and that the proposed use fits the Waterfront Business District. The motion to grant the variance carried 5-0; board staff will expect the applicant to submit the parking lease evidence to zoning staff for the record and to file the final written decision.
