The Newport Zoning Board on Dec. 23 unanimously approved 7 Carroll Avenue LLC’s request to convert a second‑floor 3‑bedroom dwelling into a 3‑bed guest house and to grant related dimensional relief tied to parking.

Applicant Ian Martins told the board he will live on the third floor as an on‑site manager, that the first floor contains the Harvest Cafe and that the property provides five on‑site spaces plus a leased spot at 32 Cary Street. Traffic engineer Todd Brayton testified a one‑unit conversion would increase daily trips only slightly and recommended marking tenant parking to prevent customer use of tenant spaces.

Objectors raised concerns about prior noncompliance at the site and alleged portions of the shared parking lot had been used for storage and not regularly available for parking. On the record counsel and the applicant agreed to three conditions the board then required: clearly signed and designated tenant parking on the premises; if the applicant no longer resides at the property, the owner must employ a paid on‑site manager and file a lease with a description of duties and compensation; and all spaces identified in Exhibit 1 must be kept clear for their designated uses.

Board members said the application, a scaled‑back version of an earlier petition, met the hardship standard driven primarily by parking constraints and found the requested relief to be the minimum necessary. The motion to adopt staff findings and grant the petition under Chapters 17.108 and 17.109 passed 5–0; counsel will prepare the written opinion for the file.

Next steps: the applicant must start and substantially complete the project within 12 months or request an extension from the Zoning Officer, and outstanding public‑notice invoices must be paid before recording the decision.