🚧 Farmington Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting: All the Details You Need! 🚧
Date: November 18, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Town Hall Council Chambers, Farmington, CT
Watch the full meeting on YouTube here!
The latest Farmington Zoning Board of Appeals meeting covered two major requests involving local properties: a proposed reconstruction at 100 Red Oak Hill Road and a variance request at 35 Garden Street. Here’s the lowdown!
100 Red Oak Hill Road: Special Exception & Variance
Applicant: Matthew Yard
Proposal: Reconstruction of a single-family home, including a new front porch and garage. The application included:
- A notable exception to expand an existing nonconforming building.
- A variance to reduce the front yard setback from 40 feet to 18 feet for the new home and 15 feet for the front porch.
Address: 100 Red Oak Hill Road, Farmington, CT 06032
The original structure faced significant damage from a fire and will be demolished. Matthew Yard, the builder, highlighted the need to redesign the house’s layout to align with current zoning standards while maximizing functionality. Yard stated, “We want to build a modern, safe home for my family that respects the neighborhood’s character but also meets our needs.”
Commissioner John Schuhhorn noted during the meeting, “We have to balance nonconformity and practicality. This proposal does improve setbacks but also increases square footage in the setback area, which is a concern.” Meanwhile, Commissioner Tara Callahan remarked, “The house has been designed to better align with current zoning, which is commendable. But, we have to consider whether expanding the nonconformity is something we can support.”
Neighbors were invited to share their views, and Jessica Kolakoski, a family member of Matthew Yard, expressed her support, saying, “This is about helping a family rebuild after a tragedy. It’s not just getting a bigger house; it’s about making something livable and safe for them.”
The Board was divided, and the vote ultimately resulted in a split decision. Commissioner Charles Grady-Benson abstained due to questions regarding town ownership, while the remaining members approved the variance request but rejected the special exception, highlighting ongoing community concerns around expanding nonconformities.
Meeting Note: Watch the discussion and vote here!
35 Garden Street: A (Tight) Carport Addition
Applicant: Jack Kemper of Kemper Associates Architects LLC
Proposal: A variance to reduce the side yard setback from 15 feet to 1.5 feet to construct a carport for the home.
Address: 35 Garden Street, Farmington, CT 06032
The proposal aims to add a new carport alongside an existing one-car garage. Due to the unique grading on the lot and retaining walls limiting space, architect Jack Kemper emphasized the challenges in designing a viable addition. Kemper explained, “We tried to make this addition as minimally intrusive as possible. The retaining wall and grading make other configurations impractical.”
During the hearing, Commissioner Patrick Walsh asked, “What kind of drainage plan do you have in place to ensure there’s no impact on your neighbors?” Jack Kemper responded, “We have committed to installing gutters and proper drainage that will direct water away from the neighboring property, ensuring there’s no runoff issue.”
There were a few conditions attached: the carport must include gutters and proper drainage to prevent runoff from impacting the neighboring property.
Vote: Unanimous approval by the Board. Chairman Jonathan Chorin concluded, “This proposal is sensible given the constraints of the lot, and the architect has clearly worked to mitigate any negative impacts on the neighbors.” Catch the decision here!
Thank You to Our Sponsor! A big shout-out to Farmington Storage, our community’s go-to storage solution, located at 155 Scott Swamp Road. Give them a call at 860-777-4001 for all your storage needs! 🎉
📝 Jack Beckett’s Signature Corner:
Well, folks, that wraps up another session of local democracy in action. If I had a dollar for every time zoning discussions made me wish for a fifth cup of coffee, I could afford a triple espresso right about now! ☕️
And while you’re here, don’t forget to explore the We Are Farmington site. Dive into our latest editorials, find properties for sale, catch up on election coverage, and learn more about Farmington’s historic district. We cover it all, from zoning debates to high school happenings (here). And yes, you can always message us on X.com, aka Twitter (or as we affectionately call it, Twix).
Join us as we help shape Farmington’s future, one meeting—and coffee—at a time. #WeAreFarmington