Norwood ZBA approves special permit for front-setback addition at 19 Lyden Street

The Norwood Zoning Board of Appeals on Nov. 4 approved a special permit allowing an addition to a preexisting nonconforming home at 19 Lyden Street, closing a public hearing held at the Norwood Senior Center and online.

The board approved the application as submitted after hearing from the applicant, Ralph Corolla, owner of IK Construction Company, who represented property owner Travis Henry and described plans for a 16-by-16 primary addition that will create a great room, a full bathroom and a mudroom. Corolla told the board the first-floor bathroom is intended to improve access for an older relative who may need a wheelchair.

Board members asked why the addition was located toward the front/driveway rather than at the rear, where setbacks would create less encroachment. Corolla said site topography, the location of the driveway and the small existing kitchen drove the choice: the proposed mudroom provides direct, level access to the driveway and connects to an enlarged living/kitchen area. He also said the intent was to minimize loss of usable yard while improving accessibility.

The application materials and testimony on the record characterized the work as an addition that increases habitable floor area by more than 25 percent. On the record the applicant stated the percentage increase as 27 percent, describing the existing habitable area and the proposed addition (the applicant referred to adding about 256 square feet to an existing figure read on the record). The board noted that the existing structure was built in the 1880s and observed that older houses in the neighborhood sit relatively close to the street.

After discussion, Member Al moved to close the public hearing; Shannon seconded and the board voted to close the hearing. A subsequent motion to approve the application "as submitted" was made and seconded (second stated as Shannon). The board voted in favor of the approval; the board chair announced the motion carried.

The board’s approval was entered on the record during the Nov. 4 meeting. The application was described during the hearing as seeking relief under the Town of Norwood zoning bylaw (special permit language read on the record) for an addition to a preexisting nonconforming structure within the front setback that increases habitable floor area by over 25 percent.

No conditions, waivers or specific mitigation measures were stated on the record beyond the board’s affirmative vote. The applicant thanked the board and left following the vote.