Litchfield ZBA approves variances to allow enclosed sunroom and covered deck with garage at 160 Meadow Street

The Litchfield Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved three variances for owner D. Lamond on June 30 to enclose a three-season sunroom and build a slightly larger deck that includes a covered deck over a single-car garage at 160 Meadow Street.

The board granted two side-yard variances from the HR-30 district requirement (Subsection 2, 30-foot side setback) — reducing one side by 1 foot and the other by 10 feet — and a 1% increase in permitted building coverage (from 12% to just under 13%). The board cited hardships arising from the property’s preexisting, nonconforming 0.32-acre lot, the sewer easement running along the driveway, and the need to reposition deck stairs and widen the deck to accommodate access to the garage below.

Owner D. Lamond said the project replaces an existing rear deck with a slightly larger structure, half of which will be an enclosed sunroom while the remainder forms a covered deck above the lower-level garage. The property is within the Historic District; the applicant has not yet applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Historic District Commission (HDC), and the HDC requires ZBA variance approval before accepting an HDC application.

The motion to approve the three variances was made by Chairman Brian Donohue, seconded by J. Zwick, and passed unanimously. Two letters of neighbor support were noted from E. J. Murphy (162 Meadow St.) and T. & L. Lasker (167 Meadow St.). The decision allows the applicant to proceed with required follow-up approvals, including the HDC Certificate of Appropriateness process.