The Lowell City Board of Appeals approved a variance allowing a freestanding carport at 7 Avalon St.

Donna Martin, the petitioner, told the board the carport is freestanding (not permanently attached) and sits on spikes over a stone driveway installed for drainage; she said the family installed the carport after canceling planned renovations and now needs the covered space to help a handicapped relative. "We thought... a carport would make sense for him and for, for myself as well," she said.

Board members reviewed staff comments and site photos, agreed the driveway and carport are preexisting features on a tight dead-end street, and described the request as a minimal, reasonable accommodation for off-street parking. Mr. McCarthy and other members said they had no objections; site-review staff had no concerns, and no members of the public opposed the petition.

On motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by the vice chair, the board recorded a unanimous roll-call approval for the variance to reduce the accessory-structure setback (noting the setback was cited in comments as reduced from the required 10 feet to about 3.5 feet).

The petitioner was given approval to retain the carport subject to any applicable building-permit requirements.