ADR supports 34 Shady Lane guesthouse addition and deck legalization

The Ross Advisory Design Review Group recommended support for design review, a nonconformity permit and a variance for a small addition and deck legalization at 34 Shady Lane.

Planning staff explained the proposal adds 248 square feet to an existing nonconforming guest house to create a new laundry room, bedroom and bathroom, and seeks to legalize an existing deck that encroaches into the rear yard setback and expand it by 67 square feet to align with the new addition. Staff recommended the ADR support the design review, nonconformity permit and variance, noting the deck provides a functional and safe outdoor connection that is elevated to meet the required flood elevation.

Designer David (principal designer, gDesign/g family construction) told the ADR the owner applied for an initial 200-square-foot addition that was approved during building permit review, and the additional 48 square feet pushed the project into design review. David said the raised deck is roughly 16 inches off the ground and was elevated to meet base flood elevation; the applicant sought to legalize the long-standing deck and expand it to connect living spaces.

Multiple ADR members said they could make the required variance findings. One member described the historic position and long-standing configuration of the structure as supporting a finding of unusual circumstance; others said the project would not injure surrounding properties, is modest in scale, is under allowed FAR for the lot and is well screened from neighbors. "I can make the findings because it's a very big lot. This is under the allowed FAR," one member said.

The ADR agreed to recommend approval to the Town Council and provided suggested findings that the expansion does not injure surrounding properties and is consistent with the historic nonconforming configuration.

Staff will forward the ADR recommendation and findings to the Town Council for final action.