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Home My WebLink About1990-05-02 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes/i ZONING G BOARD 07 APPEALS MINUTES MAY 2, 1 9,00 Members Present., Stephen Tucker,, Chairman John J arema Ard it'h oli eworka. John Coote* *Indicates a non-Voting Member A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held in the Selectmen g s Meeting Room of the Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MIA at 7:00 P.M. The first public hearing was on the petition of Anthony Ruscio who sought a Special Permit under Section 4.'-3.2.8 of the Zoning BY-Laws of the Town of "Reading for the purpose of an accessory apartment within the premises described as 18 Beaver Road, Reading, M~71. Mr m Ruscio then stated that he intended to use the accessory apartment for his daughter and her two children. Mr a Tucker stated that three members of the hoard had done a site inspection last evening. The first requirement to be met is that to structure had to have been occupied before August 1982 The dwelling was built in 1973. The second requirement is that the accessory apartment can not occupy more than 1 /13 of the gross floor area of the one family dwelling. Mr. Ruscio stater!. that he was confused with how to fi ,ure the gross square footage. Mr. Jarema stated that he had figured the gross square footage of the accessory apartment to be roughly 725 feet. There was some confusion as to what rooms would be inclined in the accessory apartment n 1-r. Ruscio drew on a plan which rooms would be included. Wile this was being done, Mr. Tucker went o to t_$'}e next requirements. The third requirement was that the owner must reside in the house. The Ruscios did reside in the house. The nest -requirement was that the appearance of the dwelling must remain the same. Mr. Ruscio stated that no new entrances or additions had been added a 42e ?'?ert requirement was that the accessory apartment have access to off-street parking. Mr. Ruscio stated that the driveway was large enough. The next requirement was that no other apartment would be allowed on the lot. The last requirement was that all building codes would have to be veto Mr e Ruscio stated that he had purchased the pro!perty last June and ;that he had finished the basement himself a ;fir. Jarema stated that the assessors card did not show a finished basement- Tie 1 also stated that in 190`2 the cross floor area was only 11 32 square feet, therefore, the apartment could only be 375 square feet to be only 1/3 of the area. 'I' he minimum size of an accessory anartdrent must be 400 square feet. Mr. Jare =a also had a :)robleri with 'the two exits from the, apartment. There was one exit in the bedroom. Mr. Puscio was ho~.~incf that the front door could be used as the other exit. Mr. Dare ma stated that i the stove was taken out of the apartment the area could. still be utilized. as Mr. Puscio would like it. Mr. Ruscio stated that his daughter wanted her own apartment. fie also stated that his daughter needed to get assistance and needed to be listed as an apartment. Mr. `Fucker stated that it area could not be et. He not finished in 1982 they the apartment. They coup was a major problem that the floor stated that the as the basement was could not use that footage to figure only use 1132 square feet. Some of the neighbors stated that they had no objection to his daughter living there, but they were against having an accessory apartment. Thev were concerned. that if the daughter Y«oved out it could be rented to anyone. Mr. Tucker ready a letter from Susan DiAngeles stating the same thing. M!'. Tucker stated that he had a problem wi til the roost to t'('l.e right of the stairs. He stated that it could easily be used as part of the apartment. Ardith W eworka was concerned that there were not two exits. Mr. Jarema stated that another exit would have to be put somewhere. Also, the apartment did not meet the square footage requi-rement. At. 8:15 P.M. Mr. J a re ma roved to grant a Special Permit under Section 4.3.2.8 of the Reading Zoning By-Laws for the purpose of establishing an accessory apartment at 18 Beaver Road as laved out in ;elan attached occupying the total square foot area of 445 square feet which shall meet all building, plumbing, and. electrical cones with the condition that it be inspected upon transfer of ownership. Ardith Wieworka seconded and the ..potion failed with a vote of 0-3. The next public hearing was on the petition of Daniel and Anne Barrett who sought a Variance under Section 5.1.2 of the Zoning By-=maws of the Town of Reading for the purpose of an addition which wi11 be too close to the side lot line on property described as 1 87 High Street, Reading, MA. Daniel and Anne Barrett could not be present but were represented by Mr. Paul Dearborn, the Contractor for the project. -Mr. Dearborn stated that the Barrett g s would like to build an 2 addition on the northerly side of the house which would be 11.5 feet fro-i the side lot line. 'He then read a letter from the Barrett's stating their reasons for the addition. He stated that the family has owned the house for 30 years and the kitchen is much too small to contain any modern appliances. 'here is no room for even a table and. chairs. Tyr. Dearborn stated that Fr. Barrett is a Priest in Avre and, will be retiring this year. Anne is his sister and. they will be occupying the house. He also stated that Fr. Barrett and. Ms. Barrett have made many friends over the years and would need extra kitchen area to entertain. Mr. Dearborn then stated that the addition would have a full foundation with a cellar so that tools ect. could be stored there. The addition would be 10 x 23 feet, which they felt was the minii.um size to make the addition worth the expense. Mr. Jare tea asked why they didn't use the pantry as the addition. Mr. Dearborn stated that it would not be :dig enough for new appliances. The Board discussed if there was anything unique about the property. Mr. Dearborn stated that there was nothing that he was aware of. Mr. Jarema stated that he had looked at the house and it had. one of the larder lots in the area. Arc>ith Wi eworka stated that she felt that there was not much to work with as she couldn't see any uniqueness with the property. She also stated that she would like to hear from the applicants themselves. She also felt thatL there was another alternative, as the addition could coo in the rear of the property. Mr. Dearborn stated that the Barrett's did not want the addition in the rear as it would take up the back yard. Mr. Jarema stated that he would also like to hear from the Barretts. Ile also could see no uniqueness in the property. Mr. Fucker stater that the lot chid have a unique shape but that there was ample room in the rear so that the addition would not encroach on the lot line. Z'rdith Wieworka moved to grant a Variance to Daniel and Milne Barrett for the property located at 137 High Street,, Reading, MA wirer Section 54.1.2 of the Reae?i n;s Zoning By- Laws for the purpose of an addition which is too close to the northerly side lot line coning to :between 11 and 11.5 feet of that line. Mr. Jarenia seconded and the :notion failed oy a vote of 0-3. 3 The Board then discussed that most applicants that come before the Board seem to be unprepared to discuss the criteria needed to get relief. MINUTES Mr. Jarema }roved to accept the minutes of March 1, 1990. Mr. Coote seconded and the motion passed with a vote of 3-0-1. At 9.00 P.M. a motion was made and seconded to adjourn and the Board voted unanimously to do so. Respectfully submitted it KW-en Saporito, Recording secretary to the Zonigg :Goard!of i ats. Signed: Atn Date: °7 - I , / zee Approved: ' p ~F 4