Board grants permit for in‑ground pool at 96 K Street over neighbor concerns about runoff and noise

The Newport Zoning Board approved a special‑use permit and lot‑coverage variance Dec. 23 to allow Michael and Lori Landergan to install an in‑ground fiberglass pool at 96 K Street. The applicants said the pool will use a cartridge filter and saltwater system and that their plan removes paved driveway area, improving net permeability on the lot; they also proposed a French drain to capture pool discharge if needed.

Neighbors opposed the project on grounds of historic flooding and chemical runoff from older pools in the area, and said prior pool drainage had flooded basements and washed pavement. Objector Kristen Miner told the board she had documented repeated flooding runs tied to an adjacent property and sought assurances that the new installation would not add load to the storm system. In response, the applicant said the fiberglass/saltwater design requires little end‑of‑season discharge — typically just a drop of a few inches as the pool is allowed to evaporate — and that they would restore removed driveway surfaces to lawn or pervious pavers. The board discussed requiring engineered drainage (French drain), pervious pavers, and adherence to the utilities director’s rules for any discharge into the municipal system. After deliberation the board voted 5–0 to grant the special use and variance.