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Zoning board approves variance to allow house on landlocked 130 Tuttle Lane
Summary
The Greenland Zoning Board of Adjustment voted June 17 to grant a variance that lets a buyer build a single-family home on a landlocked lot at 130 Tuttle Lane, relying on a recorded 50-foot right-of-way rather than owned frontage; planning-board review remains required for buffers and drive access.
The Greenland Zoning Board of Adjustment on June 17 approved a variance to allow construction of a single-family home on a landlocked lot at 130 Tuttle Lane (R10 residential). Attorney Tim Phoenix, representing prospective buyers Colton and Megan Gold and the current owners David and Suzanne Sanderson, told the board the parcel has existed without owned frontage since a 1957 subdivision and that a recorded 50-foot right-of-way provides practical access to Tuttle Lane.
Phoenix said the lot includes about 3.57 acres of uplands suitable for a house and that the town’s frontage rule (section 4.2(b) of the zoning ordinance) requires 200 feet while the subject lot owns 0 feet but has a 50-foot easement recorded in the chain of title. “The lot as described without frontage has existed since 1957,” Phoenix said, noting deeds and a 1957 survey were entered as exhibits.
Phoenix framed the request under the five-part variance test, arguing the proposal would not alter the essential character of the neighborhood or threaten public health and safety, and that substantial justice favors allowing reasonable use of the land. He told the board that developing the lot would increase assessed value (appraised value noted in the record at about $351,300) and that the buyers will still be required to obtain planning-board approvals on driveway, buffer and stormwater details.
Board members questioned emergency access and frontage definitions. Phoenix said the easement is generally as wide as a public street in places and that an initial 20-foot access for emergency vehicles tapering to a narrower private driveway would be provided; he added that sprinklers and other measures could be used if needed.
After closing the public hearing, a board member moved to grant the variance as described in the Beals Associates plan dated 01/25/2025; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board did not record an individual roll-call tally in the transcript. The applicant will proceed to the planning board for conditional approvals and any required sitework permitting.
