Milford board approves three variances to convert former market into second home and expand parking

The Milford Board of Adjustment on Monday granted three variances for a property at 60602 Southeast Front Street that owners say will convert a long-vacant neighborhood market into a second single-family home and formalize parking behind the lot.

The variances — (1) a use variance to allow two single-family detached dwellings on one R-2 parcel, (2) an increase in maximum lot coverage from 40% to 61%, and (3) permission to expand an existing stone driveway by 400 square feet rather than installing a dustless surface — were approved by a 4-0 vote with one commissioner absent.

The parcel currently contains an existing single-family dwelling and an older building that formerly operated as a neighborhood market. Planning staff told the board the commercial building has been abandoned for decades and that renovations to the structure prompted a code-enforcement citation after inspectors observed signs of occupancy. Planning staff said the applicant sought a use variance and two area variances as outlined in the staff report and supporting packet materials.

Planning staff member Mr. Pierce described the requests and the code sections involved, citing Milford…