Zoning board approves setback variance for Bolton homeowner’s pool

The Bolton Zoning Board of Appeals on March 9 approved a variance allowing Bolton resident Stephen Rascher to reduce his rear‑yard setback from 40 feet to 28 feet to install an in‑ground pool at 8 Alexis Drive.

Rascher told the board he had appeared at January and February hearings and presented updated measurements from Needham and Goodin at the March meeting. He said the lot’s orientation and the locations of the property’s septic system and well leave no feasible alternative placement for the pool. "I am asking for a 12 ft variance which is 28 ft from the back boundary line," Rascher said.

Chair William Pike thanked Rascher for submitting the revised plan and noted that the measured distance from the corner of the house to the setback is closer to 10.4 feet in that location, a clarification discussed by board members as they examined the site constraints. Board members also discussed the distance relationships among the well, septic system and the vacant lot behind the property while reviewing buildable area and setback requirements.

Under Old Business, Alternate John Toomey Jr. moved to approve application No. ZBA‑25‑3 to reduce the rear‑yard setback from 40 ft to 28 ft to allow construction of the pool; Tom Lyon seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 4–0–0 (yes: William Pike; Andrew Chambers; Tom Lyon; John Toomey Jr.).

The meeting also approved the board’s Feb. 9 minutes earlier in the evening (motion by Andrew Chambers; seconded by Tom Lyon) and adjourned at 7:27 p.m. after a unanimous motion to adjourn. The board did not identify any conditions attached to the variance in the recorded action.

Next steps: the variance was approved at this meeting; any necessary permits or inspections for pool construction would be handled through town permitting channels and are not recorded in these minutes.