Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Permit Drainage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Long Beach ARB approves building permit for 92 New Hampshire with drainage condition
Summary
The Long Beach Architectural Review Board approved a building permit for a FEMA‑style elevated home at 92 New Hampshire Street with a condition that runoff from roof leaders be addressed by a gravel bed or equivalent permeable system in the rear yard.
The Long Beach Architectural Review Board voted to approve a building permit for 92 New Hampshire Street on a motion that included a drainage condition requiring a gravel bed or equivalent permeable device beneath rear downspouts.
Board members who approved the motion said the structure’s raised first story and garage are consistent with post‑Sandy, FEMA‑influenced designs in the area; the board’s approval was conditioned on installation of a drainage measure in the back corners of the property to limit potential runoff onto neighboring lots.
Board members discussed several technical details during the hearing: the lot is larger than typical West End lots (the plan shows a 45‑by‑60 footprint compared with the neighborhood’s more common 30‑by‑60 lots), the house design has elevated decks and poured‑concrete first story typical of flood‑resilient rebuilds, and a concrete retaining wall and adjacent chain‑link/chicken‑wire fence were noted on the plan. Members raised concern that extensive hardscape and limited landscaped area could concentrate stormwater on neighboring properties.
The board’s recommended condition allows a gravel absorption bed or a small dry well in the rear two corners of the lot; board staff noted that a separate permit would be required if an applicant chose to install a formal dry well. The board also directed staff to ask code enforcement for a written clarification about any per‑square‑foot absorption or drainage requirements and to report back at the next meeting.
Board Member Clancy made the motion to approve with the stated drainage condition; Board Member Patton seconded. Voting recorded on the motion was: Clancy — yes; Galto — yes; Lucas — no; Martinson — yes; Patton — yes; Spada — yes; Chairperson (recorded on the roll call) — yes. The motion passed and the case was granted with the conditions stated on the record.
The board discussed making its recommendation non‑prescriptive where possible, allowing applicants flexibility to use a gravel bed, permeable surface, or a dry well (the latter requiring an additional permit) so as not to impose undue financial burden on the property owner. Staff will return with the city’s drainage/absorption guidance to clarify what the ARB should routinely request for similar infill or rebuilt homes in the West End.
Less contentious items on the record included comparisons to surrounding properties and confirmation that any zoning variances would have been handled through the zoning board before an ARB review if required. The permit approval was recorded as final at the meeting end.
