The Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals on September 25 urged residents at 45 Williams Avenue applying for a variance to build a garage larger than the 1,000 square feet that town regulations allow to withdraw and refile because it was determined that the applicant needs more than one variance for his plan.
William Flaherty III came before the board with a proposal to build a 1,490-square-foot detached garage to store his personal and hobby vehicles. “Especially for my wife, it’s the square footage I need to keep our vehicles out of sight,” he said.
Member Richard Cutler pointed out the problem with this plan. Town regulations state no structure shall be placed in front of a residential property, he said, and this garage to the right of his house would be in the front yard.
Flaherty said there is not much room to place it to the left of his home. Locating it to the right would place it too close to his and his neighbors’ property line. He is limited from placing it farther back because of the location of his well.
Flaherty was told he would have to refile with a second variance request for relief of the town regulation against structures in a property’s front yard. He agreed to do so. He requested that his application be withdrawn without prejudice. The board waived his submission fees for the refiling and to continue the hearing to October 23. Board Administrator Andreia Lacerda told Flaherty he will still need to pay the fees for mailing the abutters’ notices and legal advertising in The Wanderer.
In other action, the board continued to October 9 its hearing into the petition for two variances for a plan to build a three-car garage in excess of the permitted 1,000 square feet at 447 Neck Road, upon the petitioner’s request.
The board approved reverting its meeting time from 7:15 pm back to 7:00 pm.
The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals will be held on Thursday, October 9 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals
By Michael J. DeCicco