ZBA grants variances for Dilapidated-garage infill on Buffington Street
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Summary
The board approved variances allowing the demolition of a nonconforming garage and construction of a single-family residence on a small Buffington Street lot, finding the new home a neighborhood improvement and largely consistent with the A2 zoning context.
Attorney Thomas Kiloran presented a petition for a small lot on Buffington Street (approximately 5,000 square feet) where an existing nonconforming two-stall garage sits almost directly onto the street. The applicant, Zachary DeCunha, requested dimensional variances to demolish the garage and build a single-family residence with two off-street parking spaces and improved front and side setbacks compared with the existing condition.
Kiloran told the board the proposed house would be set back roughly 20 feet from the street (a greater setback than the existing structure), would provide two compliant off-street parking spaces and would not increase lot coverage compared with current conditions. The Planning Department noted the parcel was similar in size to other lots in the neighborhood and that pending updates to the city's A2 zoning recommendations could reduce the amount of relief needed in future cases.
No members of the public opposed the plan. Board members characterized the project as an improvement over the current blighted structure and voted unanimously to grant the variances as presented.