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Board allows larger shed and slightly wider driveway at tight‑lot 3 Salem Street
Summary
The Nashua Zoning Board of Adjustment approved variances Dec. 10 allowing a 10×12 shed to replace an 8×8 shed and a driveway width of 27 feet at 3 Salem Street, citing the lot’s small size and preexisting paving.
The Nashua Zoning Board of Adjustment voted unanimously Dec. 10 to grant three variances for 3 Salem Street that will let the owner replace an existing 8×8 shed with a 10×12 shed and retain a 27‑foot driveway where 24 feet is the maximum under the code.
Owner/applicant Paul Rivard told the board his property is small (roughly 50×57 feet), that his paved yard and preexisting driveway have existed for many years, and that he needs space to park up to four vehicles when family members are home. Rivard said the back of the lot abuts a neighbor’s parking lot and that the proposed shed and driveway mostly replace existing paved surfaces. He described temporary storage structures currently in place and said a larger shed would remove the tarped PVC annex he uses for extra storage.
Board members examined neighborhood precedent and noted multiple nearby properties with tight setbacks and existing sheds; members called the lot’s size and the preexisting driveway conditions special circumstances that justified relief. A motion to approve variances for rear‑yard (6 ft required, 2 ft proposed), right‑side yard (6 ft required, 4 ft proposed) and driveway width (24 ft permitted, 27 ft proposed) passed 5–0.
The chair reminded the applicant of the 30‑day rehearing window and encouraged coordination with Planning staff on next steps.
