The Zoning Board of Appeals Thursday approved two special permits for the demolition of single-family houses to be replaced by larger structures. The votes followed public hearings on the requests.
Zoning law requires a permit for a teardown-and-rebuild on non-conforming lots – almost half of the lots in the town. The primary criterion is compatibility with the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
Atty. Pamela Brown, representing the owner of 1 Walsh Road, showed the board photographs of several new homes along the street. The 21,550-square-foot lot is at the corner of The Great Road.
The current structure is a ranch, and Brown said the proposed two-story replacement has a footprint that’s “a little bit bigger but not enormous.” There was some discussion of estimated seasonal groundwater elevation. “We don’t expect any problem, but we’ve got some wiggle room” to reach maximum allowed height in case the foundation has to be raised, Brown said.
Brown also presented for Amy Coffey and her development firm, A. Coffey House, regarding a requested teardown-and-rebuild at 9 Beacon St. Again Brown‘s slides showed a range of housing styles and sizes in the area.
The proposed new house will be farther from the street than the current building, Brown said. This is possible because the lot is much wider in the rear – a shape that various members labeled a “hammer,” “rattail,” and “porkchop” lot. The teardown and rebuild “actually is going to open things up,” surmised member Thomas Flannery.
There was some concern about the accuracy of a property line, with one neighbor, Heather Lawson, questioning a survey showing that half of her “historic fireplace” is actually in the yard of 9 Beacon.
Board Chair Robert Kalantari noted, “We can’t correct boundaries at this meeting. That’s not our jurisdiction.” Code Enforcement Director Chris Laskey added, “If we have a certified plot plan, we have to rule based on that. If there is a dispute with property lines the town does not get involved.”
“I don’t want to hold up the project – I am excited about Amy’s project,” Lawson said. Brown told her the fireplace should be preserved regardless of the property line.
Also on the agenda was another demolition and replacement, this one a duplex at 39-41 Evergreen Ave. The matter was postponed until Sept. 22 because of late submission of the plot plan.
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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I do not understand how the Zoning Board of Appeals can approve tearing down small houses at the same time that Bedford is trying to increase the availability of affordable houses.