The Concord Zoning Board of Adjustment granted two variances that will allow construction of a single-family house on an undeveloped lot on Mulberry Street where the applicants Joseph Hughes and Jeffrey Martin did not appear at the hearing.

Staff explained the lot would be nonconforming only because previous common ownership with neighboring parcels prevented counting it as a nonconforming lot; the property predates the present ordinance. The board discussed neighborhood lot sizes and frontage and concluded the modest relief sought would not be out of character.

A nearby resident, Mary Maguire, whose rear property line abuts the Mulberry Street parcel, testified that her primary concern was privacy and that she would like to see screening or fencing depending on where any new house sits. Planning staff said any house placement must meet rear and side setback requirements unless the applicant later seeks additional variances; abutters would receive notice of any future variance requests. The board noted they could condition relief if a variance included a nonstandard setback, but in this case the applicants requested only frontage and lot-area relief.

Board members moved and seconded motions to grant a variance from section 28-4-1(c) to permit 86 feet of frontage where 100 feet is required, and to grant a variance from section 28-4-1(b) to permit a lot area of 10,455 square feet where 12,500 is required. Both motions adopted the applicants proposed findings and passed unanimously. The board advised abutters that site plan details, driveway access and any additional relief will be considered when the applicant submits building plans or appears for further hearings.

The resident who testified was told she will receive notice if additional variances are filed; the board said typical house placement on the lot would likely be in the middle of the parcel given setbacks, making extreme intrusion on any single abutter unlikely.