By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Zoning Board of Appeals made quick work of approving three petitions at its meeting on 10/3.
Dana Pickup received a variance to build a two-car garage attached to a house owned by Barbara and Arnold DeTerra at 484 Sconticut Neck Road.
Mr. Pickup told the board that the owners’ daughter and son-in-law wanted to move in, but the living area in the raised ranch is too small.
The new garage will have living space above that will be at the same level as the upper floor of the house. They plan to build a bedroom, living room/den and a bathroom, but no kitchen. The building will have a separate entrance.
The project required a variance for being 16 feet short of the 20-foot side yard setback. The garage will be 100 feet from the nearest neighbor.
Mr. Pickup said there was really only one place to put the addition because of the placement of the existing septic tank.
No members of the public commented on the project, and the board granted the variance.
In a follow-up phone interview, ZBA Chairperson Peter DeTerra said he was not related to the owners of the property.
In another matter, the ZBA approved a petition by Paul Chaisson of 10 Cherry Street to build a two-car garage with a mud room connecting it to the house. The new building will have a family room and half-bath on the upper floor, but no kitchen.
Some neighbors attended the meeting to show support, but did not speak on behalf of the project. No abutters spoke against the proposal.
The board approved a variance for the project being 12 feet short of the required 30-foot rear yard setback.
The board also approved a petition for Barbara Starkie, 21 Brae Road, to raze the existing house and build a new house with a farmer’s porch.
The project requires variances for being 10.5 feet short of the required 20-foot front setback on a corner lot and 17 feet short of the required 30-foot rear setback.
In the rear, the new building will actually be farther from the property line. The current building is 12 feet away from the line, the new building will be 13 feet away, engineer Michael Koska told the board.
“It will be an improvement to the neighborhood, and it will be in harmony with the neighborhood,” said Mr. Koska. “It’s a nicer, more modern house.”
The existing building only has a crawl space now and needs a foundation. It makes more sense to build a new house, rather than raise the old one up and put a foundation under it, said Mr. Koska.
“I can’t do the crawl space anymore,” said Ms. Starkie.
No members of the public commented.
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