Charlestown zoning board approves special-use permit for dormer expansion at Rim Island Road

The Town of Charlestown Zoning Board of Review approved a special-use permit on Oct. 24 for a dormer that increases interior usable space at 65 A & B Rim Island Road.

Shari Jackson, the surveyor and engineer speaking for applicants Barbara Hodgkin and Robert J. Hodgson, told the board the parcel contained two houses on one lot and therefore is a nonconforming situation under local rules. She said the dormer was added during reconstruction and “it was unbeknownst to the builder at the time that this was under, like, a special use permit for this project,” and that the dormer increased interior headroom and added approximately 115 square feet of usable floor area while not changing the ground-floor footprint.

The board discussed whether the work changed exterior footprint or setbacks and concluded the exterior footprint remained the same. One member noted the dormer created additional usable square footage but not additional second-floor footprint: “It added usable square footage with headroom. It didn't add square footage to the Second Floor. It's literally raising the roof line,” a board member said.

A motion to approve Application 1645 under Article 6 §2-18-39D was moved and seconded with the condition that any further intensification be brought before the zoning board prior to construction. The board voted 5–0 to approve the special-use permit. The vote was recorded as Yes from Mister Abbott, Mister Lamontagne, Mister Pangborn, Mister Reddick and Miss Andrew.

The board closed the item after the approval and offered the applicants best wishes in completing the project.