The Concord Zoning Board of Appeals on Dec. 12 granted three separate special permits for residential projects, voting unanimously on each application.

Patricia Nelson received approval to extend an existing 1-foot nonconforming side-yard setback at 52 Cottage Lane to build a roughly 98.6-square-foot bathroom addition. Nelson told the board the work would let the family move a bedroom to the first floor and "age in place." The board heard that abutters have reviewed the plans and voiced support; members found the addition modest and unlikely to harm neighborhood character and voted to approve the request.

At 7 Seymour Street, the board granted a special permit to allow a 60-square-foot covered front porch 12 feet from the front property line (extending a nonconforming 15.9-foot front-yard setback) and to permit a second-story dormer within the side-yard setback to create two upstairs bedrooms and two bathrooms. The owner said the gross floor area will remain within allowable limits and that the neighbor contacted by the applicant supports the project. Board member Elizabeth Dwyalena moved to grant the permit; the motion passed with an aye from each member present.

At 95 Prairie Street the board approved a larger application to demolish an unusable detached garage and build a new one while allowing a house addition that increases gross floor area by more than 50 percent. Elise Stone, representing the applicants, said the existing garage is "unusable" and that the new structure would be slightly larger to accommodate a modern single-car space and storage. Several neighbors raised concern about a prominent oak tree adjacent to the drive; the board added a condition requiring that driveway paving not be placed any closer to the oak than its current position and that adjustments to the garage location to accomplish that protection would be permitted within the scope of approval. Landscape contractor Joe Catello said the tree will be pruned and monitored by a certified arborist and that the team "have no intention on removing that tree." The board approved the application with the tree-protection condition.

All approvals were taken by voice vote at the meeting. The board recorded the votes as unanimous among members present.