Commission opposes lot-split relief at Williston Street, cites density and driveway concerns

The Planning Commission on Sept. 2 voted to send a negative recommendation to the Zoning Board of Review for a dimensional-variance request linked to two adjoining lots on Williston Street. The applicant proposed splitting an undersized lot to construct a new single-family home while retaining an existing two-family dwelling on the other lot. Staff said the proposed new lot would comply with the state’s sliding-scale provisions, but commissioners focused on density, parking and whether the existing structure could meet setback and driveway requirements without relief.

Why it matters: the applicant relied on a 200-foot merger analysis to argue the lots are unmerged under state law; staff and the commission treated the 200-foot analysis as satisfied for lot-unmerger purposes but concluded the remaining nonconformity of the existing two-family dwelling required dimensional relief. Several commissioners said the application would raise density above neighborhood medians and that the existing building did not demonstrate a driveway meeting current code without an easement that encroaches on the new lot.

Staff described the submission as technically complex: the proposed new lot meets sliding-scale dimensional standards and requires no relief, but the remaining building is nonconforming and seeks relief for setbacks. Staff recommended a positive recommendation to the Zoning Board; the commission rejected that motion. The commission then passed a motion to send a negative recommendation, with a stated basis that the project increases density beyond the neighborhood pattern and does not show a driveway that meets code for the remaining two-family building.

The vote was split; the negative recommendation passed by a majority vote and will be transmitted to the Zoning Board of Review for its hearing. The Zoning Board will make the final determination on dimensional relief and any easements or driveway agreements required.