HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-04-29 Zoning Board of Appeals MinutesTown of Reading
Zoning Board of Appeals
Minutes, April 29, 1993
Members Present: Ardith Wieworka, Chairman
John Jarema
John Coote
A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held in the
Selectmen's Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 16 Lowell
Street, Reading, MA at 7:00 P.M.
The first Public Hearing was on the petition of Andrew and
Viwanna Buck who were seeking a Special Permit for an
Accessory Apartment under Section 4.3.2.8 of the Zoning
By-Laws on the property located at 53 Riverside Drive,
Reading.
Mr. Buck stated that he had bought the house in 1988. When
he bought the house it had an "in-law" apartment in the
basement. This year he had applied to refinance the house
and had been denied by the bank because he had an illegal
apartment in the house. The bank stated that having a
stove in the basement made it an apartment. Mr. Buck had
to remove the stove in order to refinance. He stated that
he was here only because he wanted to keep the stove in the
basement, not because he wanted to rent the apartment. He
only wanted it for an in-law apartment or to use the stove
during the holidays ect.
The Board discussed some of the criteria for a special
Permit. The house had been legally occupied on August 1,
1982. The Board started to work on the calculations to
show that the apartment would not be more than 1/3 of the
apartment, but some of the measurements did not seem to be
accurate. The Board also did not have the Assesors card to
show which part of the house was finished in 1982. It was
discussed that the hearing should be continued in order to
gather more information.
Mr. Buck again stated that he did not really want to have
an accessory apartment. He only wanted to keep the stove
in the basement. It was discussed that the Building
Inspector could issue a letter stating that it would be
legal to keep the stove, but that the apartment could not
be rented. Mr. LeClair stated that before he issued such a
letter he would want to discuss the issue with Town
Counsel.
Mr. Buck stated that such a letter would be fine with him.
The Board decided to continue the hearing so that Mr.
LeClair could speak with Town Counsel and also that
Mr. Buck could gather more information for the next hearing
should he want to still pursue the Accessory Apartment.
At 8:15 P.M. Mr. Jarema moved to continue the subject
matter of the request for an Accessory Apartment at 53
Riverside drive to 7:00 P.M. on June 3, 1993 for the
purpose of securing additional information. Mr. Coote
seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 3-0.
At 8:30 P.M. a motion was made and seconded to adjourn, and
the Board voted unanimously to do so.
Respectfully submitted by Karen Saporito, Recording
Secretary to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
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Signed:
Date:
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Approved: