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Commission accepts discretionary review and approves revised 695 Rhode Island design with conditions after heavy neighborhood opposition
Summary
After extensive public comment opposing a four‑story single‑family proposal that would obscure a historic carriage house at the rear, the Commission took discretionary review and approved a revised design with numerous modifications (including lowering overall height by roughly three feet, eliminating rear decks, reducing rear depth and limiting fenestration on the level facing the carriage house) to improve light, privacy and the relationship to the historic resource.
The Commission considered a public‑initiated discretionary review and a rear‑yard/exposure variance for a proposed three‑story (over garage) addition at 695 Rhode Island Street that neighbors argued would be out of scale, would conceal an historic carriage house at the rear and would create significant shadow and privacy impacts.
Project architect Mark DeMellanta and sponsor owners described multiple revisions made in response to staff and neighborhood input. Neighbors — including owners of adjacent properties and local preservation advocates — spoke at…
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