ZBA approves duplex conversion at 200 Rumford Street to make existing downstairs unit legal

The Concord Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to grant a variance allowing the conversion of a finished basement/apartment into a legal duplex at 200 Rumford Street, a lot smaller than zoning ordinarily requires for two-family dwellings.

Applicant Theresa Cannejo told the board she bought the house to provide housing and supplemental income and that the downstairs unit already existed as an in‑law apartment with its own entrance. Cannejo said the unit’s compact size (roughly 540 square feet, per her testimony) and the lot’s preexisting dimensions make meeting the city’s accessory-dwelling or duplex dimensional requirements impractical.

A neighbor testified in favor, describing small apartments she had rented in other communities and arguing small units can provide affordable housing options. Another neighbor opposed, citing concerns about sight lines and street speed on the block and the potential for added parking pressure; she said Rumford Street has safety and parking issues and that additional residential units can exacerbate those problems.

Board members reviewed the local housing-policy context and the ordinance’s dimensional standards. Several members observed that the neighborhood contains other small lots and duplexes and that denying reasonable use would create an unnecessary hardship. The board adopted the applicant’s proposed findings and granted the variance, allowing the owner to legalize the downstairs apartment as part of a two‑family structure. The board noted the applicant would still need to comply with building and code requirements, including parking standards for duplexes.