A significant portion of the meeting revolved around the denial of a variance application for a pool at a residence on Quincy Avenue. The applicants sought to reduce the clearance from the building to the pool from three feet to two feet, a request complicated by recent zoning changes that imposed new setback requirements. The case marked the first time the board had to address this specific regulation.

The debate was intense, with the board scrutinizing the rationale for the six-foot clearance requirement, a figure some argued was arbitrary and not grounded in safety. A licensed surveyor pointed out that similar municipalities permitted reduced setbacks. The conversation touched on the historical context of the setback rules, with some members emphasizing the importance of adhering to established ordinances to ensure public safety and welfare.

Concerns were raised about the potential safety implications of moving the pool closer to the house, with some board members stressing the need for hard and fast rules. Nevertheless, the surveyor contended that empirical data did not necessarily support the current regulations, and the board should focus on rectifying existing mistakes without compromising safety. Despite these arguments, the board ultimately voted unanimously to deny the variance.

Following the pool variance discussion, the meeting addressed property modification applications aimed at enhancing residential accessibility. One case involved Richard and Donna Bell, who sought a variance for additional building coverage at their residence on South Union Avenue to install an elevator. The proposal was intended to improve accessibility to the first and second floors. Despite exceeding allowable building coverage, the board unanimously approved the variance, recognizing the necessity of the elevator for accessibility and ensuring that the elevator installation would not exacerbate existing setbacks.

Another application reviewed was from Alexander Chelli, who requested variances related to building coverage and setbacks to expand a non-conforming right side setback at his home on South Claron Avenue. The renovations aimed to address water damage and improve the property’s functionality, including pulling the garage forward to accommodate a car lift. The board acknowledged the existing conditions and supported the application, noting that the changes would not adversely impact the neighborhood.

The meeting also featured a detailed presentation by architect John De Benedetto concerning proposed alterations to a two-story residence on South Essex Avenue. The alterations included raising the roof and extending the second-floor walls, with an emphasis on enhancing the property’s aesthetics and functionality without expanding the existing footprint. During the presentation, discussions arose about converting concrete areas to pervious surfaces to mitigate runoff, with homeowner Ronald Niss Bomb expressing willingness to incorporate these changes. The board ultimately approved the application, with conditions including the implementation of pervious surfaces and the removal of a previously proposed storage addition.