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Coventry zoning board approves administrative subdivision and variances for Holden Street properties
Summary
The Coventry Zoning Board approved an administrative subdivision and multiple dimensional variances that reconfigure lots at 33 and 35 Holden Street to align legal lot lines with on-the-ground use, despite increasing existing nonconformities.
The Coventry Zoning Board on Dec. 3 approved an administrative subdivision and several dimensional variances for two Holden Street properties owned by Melissa and James Nolan, a town staff member said the changes were meant to align legal lot lines with the actual use on the ground.
Sam Sorsa of Coventry Survey told the board the proposal transfers an 8,791-square-foot rear “dogleg” from Lot 33 to Lot 35 so Lot 33 would become 17,634 square feet and Lot 35 would become 26,903 square feet. “That 8,791 square feet, we wanna take from 33 to put onto 35,” Sorsa said.
Sorsa listed the variances the board was asked to allow: Lot 33’s area would be reduced to 17,634 square feet where 30,000 is required (relief requested 12,366 sq ft); Lot 33’s lot coverage would be about 48.7% where 20% is allowed; Lot 35’s new coverage would be about 27.2% where 20% is allowed; setbacks on both lots would remain nonconforming or become more nonconforming in several dimensions; and both lots would continue with substandard frontages.
A town planning staff member told the board that because one of the lots is already substandard and will be made smaller, the change triggers dimensional variances and that it was prudent to include all preexisting nonconformities in the findings so the lots could continue in their present use. The staff presentation described the requests as “minor” and intended to “perfect the record” rather than to enable new development.
No members of the public commented on the Nolan proposal. A board member moved to approve the application based on the evidence and the staff report; a second was given and the board voted by roll call to approve the application as presented, including the staff report and the notation of the variances. Members recorded on the roll-call vote stated they approved the application as presented.
The board’s action allows the new lot lines and continues the preexisting nonconforming conditions on the properties; no new lots will be created. The board did not attach additional conditions beyond inclusion of the staff findings. The meeting then moved to a second agenda item.
