HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-02 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutesla~~ .LAP<<
Town of Reading
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Minutes of October 2, 2008
Members present: Paul Dustin, Chairman
Clark Petschek
Robert Redfern
John Miles
John Jarema
Jeffrey Perkins
Members Absent: Peter Tedesco
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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 7:00 P.M. Also in attendance was Glen
Redmond, Commissioner of Buildings.
Case # 08-22
A Public Hearing on the petition of Sriran Narayan who seeks a Variance under Section(s) Table
5.1.2 of the Zoning By-laws in order to allow an existing deck to remain 7.5' from the sideline
rather than the 15' required on the property located at 7 Bradford Road in Reading, MA.
The Applicant said he purchased the house in 2006. There was an existing deck on the side of the
house. He did not know the deck did not meet the zoning setbacks. He wants to keep the deck
because it is attached to an existing exit.
The Chairman explained to the Applicant what he was required to present to the Board for a
Variance and he asked the Applicant to summarize the arguments he had presented in a written
statement.
The Building Inspector said this is a fairly new home. About four years ago he said he noticed
this deck being built without a permit and he notified the former owner. The former owner did
not respond. The former owner also did work inside the house without any permits. Mr.
Redmond told the current owner that his building permit application could not be issued unless
this deck situation was resolved with the Zoning Board. He said the Applicant has to have a
Variance from the side yard setback requirement or he will have to remove the deck.
A neighbor from 11 Bradford Road said the original landing and stairs was built in 2001. Then it
was enlarged at a later date. The Building Inspector said the deck is in poor shape and needs
reinforcements. The Applicant said he plans to install an additional door on the other side of the
house.
ZBA Meeting, October 2, 2008
Mr. Petschek said he thought the Applicant met the hardship requirement but did not meet the
other three criteria for a Variance.
Mr. Jarema said the original doors were in the front and rear of the structure and now both are in
the front so some changes have been made without the required building permits. Since the
Applicant was going to have to repair the existing decks extensively anyway, Mr. Jarema wanted
to know why the Applicant did not remove the existing decks and build new decks on the rear of
the house.
The Chairman said he thought the Applicant should explore some of these possibilities. Mr.
Jarema said the Applicant could come back with another Variance request for a modification of
the existing decks. Mr. Petschek said the existing decks are encroaching 50% into the setback
area and they cannot change that regardless. Mr. Jarema said the Applicant could reduce what is
there and thus reduce the encroachment considerably.
The Board explained in detail the various options that were available to the Applicant. The Board
recessed so the Applicant could confer with his Project Manager and the Building Inspector.
The Applicant requested a continuance to November 6, 2008.
On a motion by Robert Redfern, seconded by John Jarema, the Zoning Board of Appeals moved
to continue the hearing to November 6, 2008.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0 (Miles, Petschek, Redfern, Dustin, Jarema).
On a motion by Robert Redfern, seconded by John Miles, the Zoning Board of Appeals moved to
adjourn the meeting.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0-0 (Miles, Petschek, Redfern, Dustin, Jarema,
Perkins).
Respectfully
Maureen M.
Recording Sf
2 ZBA Meeting, October 2, 2008