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517 Thames Street granted variance for guest-house conversion; board cites lot constraints and nearby leased parking
Summary
The board approved a dimensional variance for 517 Thames Street to allow a two-bedroom guest house without creating on-site parking, noting the applicant leased a parking spot at Brown & Howard and that the waterfront business district makes on-site parking infeasible.
The Newport Zoning Board unanimously approved 517 Thames Street LLC’s request for a dimensional variance to convert a dwelling into a two-bedroom guest house without adding on-site parking. Attorney William Anthony Jr. told the board the applicant had procured a parking space at Brown & Howard Wharf roughly a five-minute walk away and was willing to secure additional spaces if the board required them.
Land-use expert Nancy Latender testified the waterfront business district historically accommodated transient lodging and that the conversion aligns with the comprehensive plan’s multimodal goals. Board members discussed the distinction between waterfront business and limited business districts, the manager-parking requirement, and the practical limits of adding on-site parking on small, landlocked lots. After a motion adopting staff findings and imposing the usual timing and noticing conditions, the board voted 5–0 to approve the variance.
