Homeowner Brad Airy granted special permit for addition at 17 County Street

The Foxborough Zoning Board of Appeals on June 25 unanimously approved a special permit to allow a rear addition to a preexisting nonconforming single‑family house at 17 County Street.

Homeowner Brad Airy told the board the project will add living space behind the existing home while maintaining the property’s residential character and complying with setbacks by treating Belcher Court as the front yard. "The proposed addition preserves the existing residential use," Airy said, noting neighbors had been supportive.

Chair (speaking for the board) said the expansion does not create a new nonconformity and that the renovation ‘‘will benefit the town and the neighborhood’’ by updating an older house. The board imposed three conditions: (1) the addition’s location must match the certified plot plan and not be closer to front/side/rear yard lines than shown; (2) the new habitable floor area will be limited to the approximate figure presented (approximately 970 square feet) and the final number will be appended to the decision; and (3) exterior materials and color must be comparable to the existing dwelling. The motion to approve, made and seconded on the floor, passed with all members voting in favor.

The board said it will draft and aim to sign the written decision within about two weeks and that the applicant must file the recorded decision with the registry of deeds and provide evidence of filing to the building department when applying for a building permit. The chair noted the building permit and any required zoning filings remain subject to the normal building‑department and registry processes.

Why it matters: The permit allows the homeowner to expand living space while keeping the parcel in single‑family residential use; the conditions attach documentary and design controls that the board and neighbors can reference when the applicant seeks construction permits.