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ZBA grants variance to allow 14x32 shed 8 feet from side lot line at 22 Church Road
Summary
The Bedford Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 5-0 to grant Rita Solich and Susanna Kopcho a variance to construct a 14-by-32-foot storage shed roughly 8 feet from a side property line where 25 feet is required; the board found the lot’s shape and access constraints created an unnecessary hardship.
The Bedford Zoning Board of Adjustment on Jan. 21 granted a variance allowing a 14-by-32-foot shed to be sited approximately 7.8 feet (applicants later noted 8.8 feet at the closest point) from a side property line at 22 Church Road, where a 25-foot setback is required.
Rita Solich and Susanna (Sue) Kopcho appeared before the board seeking relief for a long, narrow flag lot they said offers limited locations for a practical storage structure. The board voted 5-0 to approve the variance, finding the property’s configuration and access constraints constituted an unnecessary hardship under the town ordinance.
Solich, one of the applicants, described the lot and the intended location near a paved parking strip at the end of the driveway. She said the lot is heavily wooded and the proposed shed would be largely unseen from the street or neighboring properties. "We live at 22 Church Road... this long skinny narrow lot," Solich said while walking the board through photographs and an aerial plan showing the proposed corner location near planter boxes and steps.
Applicants said alternative storage locations on the parcel — including a small existing shed in the rear yard — are impractical because of steep terrain, narrow paths and limited access for wheeled equipment. The proposed building will be single-story, have no electrical service, and be used for household and yard equipment storage and to free up space in the applicants’ attached garage to accommodate an older family member’s car during winter months.
Board members asked about alternatives, sight lines and neighbor notice. The applicants said the immediate abutting owner, who sold part of the parcel to the applicants, provided a supporting email and did not object. Town staff and board members said the structure will be largely hidden and that no public-safety risks were identified. The board’s motion incorporated the meeting record and granted the relief with a 5-0 vote.
The applicants may proceed with building permits as required by the town, subject to any standard permit review and inspections.
