The board grappled with a contentious case involving a homeowner on Harding Road who had expanded his driveway without prior permit approval. The property owner, Joe Ano, sought relief for his driveway encroaching on the property line. He presented a practical justification for the expanded driveway, stating its benefits included improved water runoff, reduced flooding experienced during Hurricane Ida, and providing adequate parking space away from the busy Harding Road. He further claimed that the age of his home and the narrow original driveway constituted property-related hardships.

However, Ano’s lack of proper permits emerged as a point of debate, with the board pointing out that such issues would have been caught earlier if a permit application had been filed. The resolution of Ano’s case was left unresolved, pending further discussion.

The meeting also addressed a potential home expansion case by Tran Lambert, who sought clarity on the definition of hardship in the context of zoning laws. The board advised Lambert to involve an architect in future meetings to outline potential hardships and mitigate the need for variances.

Meanwhile, the debate around the proposed modifications to an existing accessory structure on a single-family property attracted attention. The property owners insisted they had no intention of creating a separate dwelling unit and maintained that the changes they proposed did not infringe upon zoning restrictions. Despite this assurance, the board engaged in robust discussions, drawing upon the lack of detailed building permits from the structure’s establishment in 1943 and potential misuse scenarios.

In a separate case, the board unanimously approved a permit for renovations to a historic mission-style home on Dous Avenue. The remodeling included a proposed bathroom and kitchenette, the latter term sparking a debate over its precise definition in zoning terms. To mitigate concerns about potential misuse of the space as a separate living unit, a resolution was proposed, prohibiting overnight stays and installation of cooking facilities.