Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rooftop Deck topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves rooftop deck at 13 Medford Street after design and visibility review
Summary
Planning board approved a special permit allowing a rooftop deck at 13 Medford Street, accepting petitioner testimony that the deck will not be visible from public ways in the historic district and confirming structural access and existing footings.
The Chelsea Planning Board voted to recommend approval of a special permit for a rooftop deck at 13 Medford Street after reviewing plans, footing evidence and visibility from the public way.
Petitioner Alex Monterey told the board the proposed deck will be about 15 feet 2 inches by 17 feet 10 inches and that existing footings and an existing stair/skylight provide interior access. Monterey said the roof is the only practical location for outdoor space on the nonconforming structure and that nearby rooftop decks on adjacent properties are larger and not visible from Medford Street.
Board members inspected paper plans circulated at the hearing and confirmed that an architect had reviewed the roof framing for structural capacity. Questions from the board covered drainage (deck boards will allow rain to fall between walking boards and existing gutters will handle runoff), visibility from the street and construction logistics (materials delivered with contractor boom lift). The petitioner said contractors estimated about one week for construction once permitted.
The board concluded the deck would not be visible from a public way because it is recessed behind the existing front facade and sits lower than neighboring rooftop decks in the historic district. A motion to approve the special permit was made and seconded; the motion carried.
The approval requires the petitioner to secure the usual building and fire-code permits before construction begins.
