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Zoning board approves Bellinger duplex variance with survey and tree protections
Summary
The Lincoln Zoning Board approved Gary and Patricia Bellinger’s dimensional variance to replace a nonconforming house with a two-unit duplex, granting relief on front, side and rear setbacks with conditions requiring a corrected survey and zoning-official approval before removal of substantial trees.
The Town of Lincoln Zoning Board of Review on a September 2025 evening approved a dimensional variance for Gary and Patricia Bellinger to demolish an existing pre‑zoning nonconforming house and build a two‑unit duplex, subject to conditions including a corrected, stamped survey and limits on removal of large trees.
The board’s chair summarized changes to the application that were made after the prior hearing: the applicants moved the building footprint forward and redistributed the requested relief to reduce rear impact on neighbors. Under the requested plan the board recorded the relief amounts as 5 feet in the front (required 25 ft → proposed 20 ft), 5 feet on the right side, 10 feet on the left side (required 15 ft), and 12 feet in the rear (required 40 ft → proposed 28 ft). The applicants said the change was intended to reduce the height of the house, keep retaining‑wall work farther from neighbors and spare large trees.
Neighbors and board members raised several points before the vote. L. Philip Laflamme urged the board to note long‑standing street runoff issues in the area; Stephanie Henault clarified that the board should measure setbacks from the legal property‑line stakes shown on the submitted survey, not from visible backyard fences; and other nearby residents questioned whether significant trees would be removed for the retaining‑wall work.
Board members pressed the applicants on plan dimensions and whether floor plans matched survey measurements; several members noted the survey and the site plans contained discrepancies. To address that, members agreed a condition should require the applicants to submit a revised, stamped survey that demonstrates the final building plans do not exceed the relief granted. The board also required that removal of any substantial trees be allowed only after approval by the zoning official.
Member Kearns moved to approve the dimensional variance with those conditions; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote with all members present voting aye. The board’s motion and the conditions will be recorded with the permit application and must be satisfied before building permits are issued.
The approval resolves the board’s review of the Bellinger application; applicants and the town will follow up to ensure the survey and permit documents align with the conditions recorded by the board.
