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Board approves variance for new home at 17 Fairview Place despite neighbor hillside concerns
Summary
A local zoning board voted to grant a 17-foot lot-width variance for a house at 17 Fairview Place after hearing from the applicant and neighbors; staff said geotechnical review and permit inspections will address hillside and sewer-line concerns before construction.
A local zoning board approved a dimensional variance Tuesday allowing Steven Rizzo to build a single-family home on a flag lot at 17 Fairview Place, reducing the required building setback-line width to 43 feet from the 60-foot standard.
The applicant, Steven Rizzo, told the board the lot narrows near the street and that the requested change would open enough buildable area to construct a home while maintaining standard side setbacks. "We don't have a home design yet; we just want to maximize our buildable area," Rizzo said during the public hearing.
Neighbor Jeffrey Hale, who identified his address for the record, objected to the proposal unless he received more information about excavation and hillside stability. "I enjoy my privacy and my peace," Hale said, describing a wooded slope behind his property and recounting past slippage and flooding near sanitary manholes. He asked how much fill dirt would be needed and whether digging could destabilize adjacent lots.
Building and zoning staff (name not given in the hearing) responded that soil and hillside issues are addressed through the building permit process. The inspector said engineers or geotechnical specialists would be required if site conditions indicated instability: "They will have to have an engineer involved to make sure that any construction or anything done to the hill is done so the hill does not move." Staff also noted the variance request affects lot width at the building setback line only and does not seek changes to side setbacks.
After questions from board members about how the lot-width measurement applies on nonconforming cul-de-sac lots, a board member moved to grant the variance. The motion stated the change "will not adversely affect the public health, safety, or welfare" and was based on evidence presented at the hearing. The board approved the motion by roll-call vote.
The board and staff said the next step for the applicant is to apply for building permits; staff will inspect and, if necessary, require geotechnical review before issuing permits. No additional conditions were specified at the hearing.
The board carried the motion and the case was closed.
