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Zoning board approves special exception for detached garage at 102 Ridgetop Road
Summary
The Wallingford Zoning Board of Appeals on April 20 approved a special exception allowing a homeowner to build a detached 900-square-foot garage at 102 Ridgetop Road that increases total garage area above the town maximum; approval is conditioned on a 15-foot height limit and passed 4-1.
The Wallingford Zoning Board of Appeals on April 20 approved a special exception for a detached garage at 102 Ridgetop Road, allowing a homeowner to exceed the town's usual maximum for total garage area. The board voted 4-1 to grant the exception and attached a condition that the detached garage not exceed 15 feet in height.
The board heard a staff summary that the applicant sought to add a roughly 900-square-foot detached garage to an existing attached garage of about 484 square feet, producing a staff-calculated total garage area of about 1,384 square feet where the zoning maximum is 936 square feet. The staff presentation noted the proposed height as slightly above the limit and recommended conditioning approval on reducing the height to a 15-foot maximum.
Applicant William (Bill) Renda told the board his stated hardship was his hobby of collecting and detailing classic Cadillacs. "I collect classic Cadillacs... I have three at the moment," Renda said, explaining the existing garage is too small to clean and detail the cars and that heavy mechanical work is handled at a separate commercial shop. He told the board he will modify the roof pitch to meet the height condition if necessary.
Neighbors and board members discussed neighborhood compatibility, screening and setbacks. A resident who identified himself as Peter Kokasko of 94 Rich Top Road said he had no objections. One board member expressed concern that the combined garage square footage would exceed the applicant's house (reported in town records as about 1,250 square feet) and questioned whether that scale fit the neighborhood; other members pointed to existing detached garages in the area.
Before voting, the chair closed the public hearing and a board member moved to approve the application as shown on the submitted plans, with the explicit condition that the detached garage height not exceed 15 feet. The roll-call tally recorded Mr. Gross — yes; Mr. Conklin — yes; Mr. Wolfer — yes; Mr. Rattis — no; Mr. Reyes — yes. The motion carried 4-1.
The board noted that decisions will be published in the Record-Journal on April 24, 2026; the effective date of any granted variance is the date a certified copy is recorded on the land records, and a statutory 15-day appeal period will expire on May 10, 2026.
The meeting then approved a small amendment to the minutes and adjourned.
