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Board grants Chalford Lane house expansion variances, delays other matters pending zoning change for backyard court
Summary
The ZBA granted an area variance to permit a modest house expansion at 3 Chalford Lane and approved a conditioned variance for a small backyard basketball area while deferring some related questions to possible zoning-code amendments that would explicitly allow basketball courts.
Caroline and Murray Eisner presented plans to enlarge a kitchen, make the front facade flush, and create office space over a two-car garage at 3 Chalford Lane. The owners also requested permission for a small, flat half-court for their children.
The board reviewed three requested variances: two area variances tied to the house expansion and a use/area variance for the accessory basketball court. Staff explained the town's accessory-use rules permit tennis courts but are silent about basketball courts; planning staff said an amendment is being drafted to explicitly permit basketball courts as an accessory use in certain districts.
After discussion the board moved to grant the area variance for the house expansion provided the applicant obtain required approvals and file stamped plans with the building department, begin construction within 12 months and proceed diligently; the board also granted the limited variance related to the basketball area subject to conditions and simultaneously adjourned parts of the application pending final town-board action on the proposed zoning amendment. The board's motion included standard conditions: necessary approvals, plan-stamp and a construction start timeline drawn from the applicant's submitted stamped plans.
The Eisners said the house is historic (built 1938) and that neighbors had largely supported the modest façade change; they emphasized the basketball area would occupy an existing flat side-yard used already for play. The board told the applicants that if the town adopts the zoning amendment staff is proposing, future applicants will be able to seek accessory recreation approvals without a use variance.
The ZBA recorded the vote granting the area variances with the stated conditions and agreed to file formal findings.
