2007-04-26-ZBA-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 26, 2007 Minutes 2 Minutesof the Lexington Zoning Board of Appeals April 26, 2007 Board Members Present: Chairman — Arthur C. Smith, Nyles Barnert, John MCWeeney, Maura Sheehan, and Judy Uhrig. Staff present: David George, Zoning Administrator and Dianne Cornaro, Administrative Clerk. Petition Address: 51 Baker Avenue The relief sought is for a VARIANCE in accordance with section 135 -35, Table 2 Dimensional Controls of the Code of the Town of Lexington to allow a front setback of 20 -feet instead of the required 30 -feet AND A SPECIAL PERMIT in accordance with 135 -29A of the Code of the Town of Lexington to add to the height of pre- existing non - conforming structure. The Chairman opened the hearing at 7:53 PM by reading the legal notice and described information received from the petitioner relative to the petition. Prior to the hearing, the petition and supporting data were reviewed by the Building Commissioner, Conservation Administrator, Town Engineer, Health Director, Board of Selectmen, Zoning Administrator, Planning Board and the Historic District Commission. Comments were received from the Zoning Administrator. Letters of support were received from John Holland and May Briggs of 32 Ames Avenue, Roberta Hefferman of 45 Banks Avenue and Susan Adams and Tom Clark of 33 Banks Avenue. Tom and Susan Hammond, owners of the property presented the petition along with their architect Roger Hoit. The special permit is needed because the roof of the existing house is 18- feet above the grade at the front elevation. The proposed roof would have a total height of 26- feet or 14 -feet below the maximum allowable height for this zoning district. The ceiling height in the existing house is 3 -feet 4- inches at the outside wall and 6 -feet 2- inches at the center in the original house and 5 -feet 3- inches at the outside and 6 -feet 6- inches in the center of the rear section added many years ago. These dimensions make the second floor almost uninhabitable and do not meet code. The proposed addition front wall would be 9 -feet further back than the existing setback of 11- feet. They are now looking for a 20 -foot setback instead of the required 30 -feet.