1998-12-03 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes

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! C1.. TOWN OF READING ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MINUTES OF DECEMBER 3, 1998 MEMBERS PRESENT: CHRISTOPHER VACCARO, CHAIRMAN MICHAEL LARKIN JOHN COOTE LAURA GREGORY A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held in the Selectmen's Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, Massachusetts at 7:00PM. Mr. Vaccaro swore in, under oath, those present that would be addressing the Board this evening. The first Public Hearing was on the petition of Derrick Evangelista who seeks a Variance and/or Special Permit under Section(s) 5.1.2. / 5.2.3.5 / 6.3.3.4 of the Zoning By-Laws in order to convert the existing garage and breezeway into a family room on the property located at 48 Bear Hill Road in Reading, Massachusetts. (Case #98-27) The petitioner represented himself. The house was built in 1947. He purchased the property in 1997 from his wife's sister. The garage was part of the original construction. He is requesting to convert the garage into a family room. The only change to the outside would be that windows would replace the garage door. There will be no change to the footprint or height of the existing structure. On the second floor is a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom where his wife's mother lives. It is not an accessory apartment, it is part of the house. A building permit was issued in 1960 to allow a dormer for this purpose. The Board moved, seconded and unanimously voted in the affirmative that, for the property at 48 Bear Hill Road, the proposed conversion of the garage to living area, without extension of the building footprint or height, is allowable under the Reading Zoning By-Laws. VOTE 3-0 (passed) The petitioner requested to withdraw the application, which was so moved, seconded and unanimously voted in the affirmative to allow withdrawal of the above-mentioned petition without prejudice. VOTE 3-0 (passed) The next Public Hearing was on the petition of Carolyn Boviard who seeks a Variance and/or Special Permit under Section 4.2 / 5.1.1 / 5.1.2 / 5.2.1/ 5.2.3.5 of the Zoning By-Laws in order to create a second dwelling unit in an existing two-story barn on the property located at 42 Chute Street, Reading, Massachusetts. (Case #98-26) Attorney Bradley Latham, of Latham, Latham & Lamond, represented the petitioner. Virginia Adams, Chairman of the Historical Commission, submitted a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals which the ZBA Chair, Christopher Vaccaro read into the record. She stated that the house at 42 Chute Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Commission supports the concept of the Carriage House being used as a dwelling unit, and stated that the Commission would stand ready to assist in developing design guidelines, suitable preservation restrictions, or other orders of conditions. Attorney Latham stated that the property is located in an S 15 District, on a lot size of over 30,000 square feet. The total area of the Carriage House is 1600 square feet, and it is located 58 feet from the dwelling.