Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Residential Variances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Applicant for 26 Newton says house fits lot but stairs trigger small variances
Summary
A civil surveyor told the zoning board the proposed single-family home at 26 Newton fits the lot’s dimensions but requires small variances mainly for exterior stairs; board members asked the applicant to consider reconfiguring stairs or providing neighborhood comparables to avoid relief.
A consultant for the applicant said the planned single-family house at 26 Newton largely meets zoning setbacks and that the variances being sought stem mainly from accessory stair landings.
"The building itself is entirely within the setbacks," said Dave Ingalls of Ingalls and Associates, who presented the plot plan and explained two nonconforming lot conditions created when the lot was subdivided years ago. Ingalls told the Zoning Board the proposal exceeds the UR2 district’s maximum principal coverage by about 1% (a 2.5% variance in the application) and seeks a 2‑foot reduction on an interior side setback largely caused by stairs that extend from the structure.
Board members pressed the applicant to consider design changes. One member asked whether stairs could be turned to run along the house and use a landing to eliminate the side-yard relief; Ingalls said a 4-foot landing with a 90-degree turn could work but acknowledged elevation and design constraints. The board suggested the applicant provide neighborhood comparables to justify the small coverage overage. The public hearing remained open for this item.
