Homeowner says contractor built porch without permits and accepts responsibility

The applicant seeking the variance said the porch was built while they were away and said the contractor should have submitted the required drawings and permits. The applicant accepted personal responsibility for the oversight: "The guys doing my construction should have submitted and should have done what they were supposed to be doing when I was away with my wife," the applicant said during the hearing.

The homeowner described practical reasons for the porch: the site makes on-street parking and direct street access to the front door impractical, so the porch allows safer and more direct access from the driveway. The board acknowledged the explanation and noted the standard permit process was not followed; the variance request was considered as an after-the-fact remedy rather than a preconstruction approval.