ZBA Grants Garage Variance on Laws Brook Road

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The Zoning Board unanimously approved a rare garage variance for 160 Laws Brook Road under a new, more discretionary state standard, allowing a 5.5-foot side setback instead of the required 15 feet. The board also approved a special permit for garage reconstruction at 113 Belknap Street, finalized an accessory dwelling unit variance decision for 262 Virginia Road, and continued two appeals by David Anderson to November 12 without hearing their substance.

Key decisions

• 🛠 Garage with 5.5-foot side setback variance. Approved unanimously. The board granted a variance to allow construction of a 336-square-foot garage with a 5.5-foot side setback instead of the required 15 feet, based on wetland and floodplain constraints. Conditions include removal of the existing driveway, a right-of-way permit from the engineering division, and likely Natural Resources Commission approval. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 🛠 Special permit for garage demolition and rebuild. Approved unanimously. The board granted a special permit to demolish a deteriorated 208-square-foot detached garage and rebuild it at 240 square feet in the same location with a front porch addition and kitchen enlargement. None of the new construction moves closer to property lines than the existing structures. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 🛠 ADU variance decision finalized. Approved unanimously. The board finalized its written variance decision allowing an accessory dwelling unit to be sited within a frontage exception area. The driveway will use an existing break in a stone wall along Virginia Road, subject to a right-of-way permit from engineering. A related waiver was denied. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📋 Farmstand and food-truck appeals continued. Both appeals filed by David Anderson were continued without discussion to November 12. The appeals will not be heard at this meeting; one involves expansion of a farmstand into a barn with commercial kitchen, the other a mobile food establishment as an accessory use. (Next: Nov. 12). Read case details

Next dates

• Nov. 12: David Anderson appeals: farmstand expansion and food truck

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