Board approves setback variance to rebuild accessory structure at 1103 Connecticut Street

The Lawrence Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously on May 7 to approve a variance (BZA-260011) that reduces the minimum street-side setback for an accessory structure at 1103 Connecticut Street from 25 feet to 15 feet.

Planner Nolan Meyer told the board the property sits within the Lawrence Register of Historic Places context area and that the Historical Resources Commission could not provide a recommendation because the application lacked sufficient information for historical review. In his staff analysis, Meyer summarized the variance criteria and concluded the request met the conditions of Section 20-16 (land development code) and recommended approval, noting the existing accessory structure encroaches into the street-side yard and that a 15-foot setback would allow construction of a safer, similar-footprint building.

The applicant, identified in the staff report as Ryan Hessman, described the current garage as structurally unsound and too small for a standard vehicle. "It's really not... you can see daylight through all of it," Hessman said, describing cracked concrete and failing siding and explaining that rebuilding on a similar footprint with a 15-foot setback would permit a practical, safe garage. Board members asked questions about repairability and intent to rebuild in place; staff confirmed that interior side yard standards (5 feet) would still apply if the building were demolished and rebuilt.

After brief discussion in which one member noted frequent passage by the property and another described familiarity with similar tight lots, Committee member (speaker 8) moved to approve BZA-260011 "based on the findings in the staff report." The motion was seconded and passed 5–0.

The board's action permits a roughly 96-square-foot accessory structure to be reconstructed consistent with the approved reduced setback, subject to any historic resource commission recommendations and remaining permit requirements.