Technical Review Committee recommends variance to legalize deck-to-season-room at 4 Kennedy Boulevard

The Technical Review Committee voted Aug. 14 to recommend that the Planning Board grant a dimensional variance for a deck conversion at 4 Kennedy Boulevard, a change that would legalize an existing deck and allow it to be enclosed as a three-season room.

The proposal, introduced by the chair, would add walls and a roof to an existing deck that sits within the rear-yard setback. A staff member noted the existing deck was built without a permit by a previous contractor and said approval would be for the deck already constructed as well as the proposed roof and walls. "The work was done without a permit by the previous contractor," the staff member said during the review.

Committee members said the addition does not extend beyond the existing house footprint and described the house and deck as a preexisting nonconforming condition. The committee reviewed site images and the limited site-plan screenshot provided, and asked only for clarity where the setback dimensions were hard to read on the submitted drawing.

Committee member (S2) moved to send a positive recommendation to the Planning Board; another member seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with members responding "Aye." The committee’s recommendation does not itself change the setbacks; it forwards the variance request and the record materials for the Planning Board to decide.

What happens next: the Planning Board will consider the variance request at its upcoming meeting using the committee’s recommendation and the applicant’s final plans. The committee did not set additional conditions beyond forwarding the application with the submitted materials and the record of their discussion.