HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-24-ZBA-min Minutes of the Lexington Zoning Board of Appeals — February 24, 2005
Present: Acting Chairman Arthur C. Smith, John J. McWeeney, Maura L. Sheehan, Associate David G.
Williams sitting in for Nyles N. Barnert, and Associate Leo McSweeney sitting for Judith J. Uhrig
Petition Address: 43 Woburn Street
The Chairman opened the hearing at 7:45 PM by reading the legal notice and described information
received from the Petitioner, other Boards and Commissions relative to the Petition. There were no
comments received from any board or committee.
Robert Kefalas and Suzanne Crane, owners of the property, presented the petition. He also presented
letters and a petition from neighbors in support of the project.
The relief sought is for a special permit and variance to allow expansion of a pre- existing and non-
conforming two - family dwelling.
Questions from the Board:
John McWeeney: Are you asking to have porch on or not? Answer: No, the neighbor across the street
would rather we didn't have porch. Owner was indifferent to it, doesn't feel porch would be used much,
really just for show.
John McWeeney: When you remove the stairs in the back it will become conforming. Answer: Yes,
that is right.
Leo McSweeney: How many parking spaces, including the parking in the front? Answer: 5 parking
spaces.
Leo McSweeney: How many bedrooms? Answer: 6 bedrooms.
Arthur Smith: Is it now being used as a 2 family? Answer: Yes.
Maura Sheehan: Could see that the stairs need to be replaced; when they are removed will there be
sufficient egress? Answer: Yes, showed stairs and entries on new plans.
David Williams: How are you screening bath path in back? Answer: There is a 3 -' /z foot grade there
and we could landscape area to screen bike path.
David Williams: What are you doing to screen abutters on driveway side. Answer: There is a 3 -foot
retainer wall and hedges.
Leo McSweeney: On the plan do you have just a roof for the porch. Answer: No there is a full porch.
David Williams: Stated that he thought a porch would look better on the house and thinks owners would
be happier with porch.
There were no questions from the audience.
Speakers in favor of the project:
Janet Wyman Lopez, 36 Woburn Street: In strong support, thinks the work being done is great.
Carol Murphy, 353 Woburn Street: Is in full support, thinks plan will add to the neighborhood.
Guy Jarvis, 97 Woburn Street: Great!
Mike Hurley, 36A Woburn Street: Feels they are working to try to make house better and thinks they
have a well thought out plan.
No speakers in opposition.
Hearing was closed at 8:04 pm.
Decision on variance: On a motion by John McWeeney and seconded by Maura Sheehan the board
voted 5 -0 to grant the variance for a rear yard setback of 15.89 feet and site coverage greater than 15 %.
Decision on special permit: On a motion by John McWeeney and seconded by Leo McSweeney the
board voted 5 -0 to grant the special permit to renovate and construct an addition to the existing
nonconforming two - family dwelling.
Submitted by Dianne Cornaro, Clerk