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Commission approves 400‑square‑foot accessory dwelling unit at 80 Whitewood Road
Summary
The commission approved site plan 15‑50 to create a 403‑square‑foot interior accessory dwelling unit in the lower level of 80 Whitewood Road, with conditions requiring zoning permits, sanitary sewer discharge permit, and updated floor sketches.
The Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site plan on Feb. 12 to permit a 403‑square‑foot interior accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 80 Whitewood Road.
Eric Spencer, the contractor for the homeowner, described plans to convert lower‑level living space to a state‑compliant ADU and to reconfigure part of the upstairs to be part of the main house. "The object is to basically take the unit in the basement and make it... state compliant," Spencer said during his presentation.
Staff reported the property is 0.26 acres in the R‑10S single‑family residential zone and that one interior ADU is allowed by site plan under zoning regulation sections 3.1.1.25 and 5.1, with the ADU limited to a maximum of 30% of the principal dwelling's floor area and a minimum of 400 square feet. Planning staff measured the house at 1,305 square feet; 30% of that figure is 391 square feet, so staff confirmed the proposed ADU at 403 square feet meets the minimum size requirement. Staff recommended waiving submission of an engineered site plan because there is no exterior work proposed, but required that the applicant provide final hand sketches showing existing and proposed new walls before issuance of zoning permits.
The commission approved site plan 15‑50 with conditions: obtain zoning permit prior to construction, obtain a sanitary sewer discharge permit from WPCA prior to certificate of occupancy, provide finalized floor sketches showing dimensions and proposed walls, and secure all building permits required by the state building code. The motion to approve carried by unanimous voice vote.
