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Council approves variance to allow porch expansion at 205 East 3rd Street
Summary
After an applicant presentation and staff recommendation, the Northport Village Council unanimously approved an 8-foot setback variance to permit a 12-foot setback and porch expansion at 205 East 3rd Street; staff will issue the land-use approval and retain documentation in the parcel file.
The Northport Village Council approved a zoning variance for 205 East 3rd Street on Aug. 8, 2024, allowing the property owner to move a porch closer to the street than the standard setback. Staff recommended granting an 8-foot variance to permit a 12-foot setback, and trustees voted in favor at the conclusion of a brief public hearing.
The applicant team — owner Lynn Vaughn and architect Sarah Bourgeois — told the council they planned to stabilize and modestly expand an existing nonconforming covered porch to make the house safe and habitable for full-time occupancy. Bourgeois described removing deteriorated elements, preserving fragile stonework and ‘‘wrapping’’ the porch to provide structural bracing and ventilation while maintaining the home’s existing façade and streetscape character. Village staff said the proposed expansion remains within the existing footprint lines where possible and compared favorably with neighboring lot configurations.
Village staff had prepared a detailed report that reviewed neighborhood setbacks, the property’s unusual frontage on the bay, and compatibility with adjacent parcels. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing. After deliberation, Trustee Hugh moved to approve the variance; Trustee Laura seconded. A roll-call vote recorded all present trustees in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: staff will issue the land-use approval, provide the applicant with the required documentation, and retain an approval copy in the village parcel file. Council members also noted the applicant must follow building-code requirements during permit review and construction.
