By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

ALLY LANASA/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
The Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a variance request to build a deck and stairs on a house at 203 Broad Street during its meeting on Sept. 2.

(Sept. 10, 2020) The Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals last Wednesday approved a variance request that will allow a deck to be added to a home on 203 Broad Street.

Jill Gray, the owner of the property asked for a variance from the required rear yard setback of 35 feet in the R-1 Residence District to build an attached nine-foot deck and three-foot stairs to the rear of the new home, which is currently under construction.

Gray and Steven Green’s mother, Patsy Bell, will be living in the property.

“We talked about having a patio instead of the deck, but we really prefer to have the elevated surface,” said Green, who represented his mother at the meeting.

The deck and stairs would advance 12 feet past the platted building restricted line.

Planning Director Dave Engelhart recommended granting the variance because there would be minimal negative impact on the adjoining property to the rear.

“I don’t think, unless you’re directly behind the home, that you’d know the deck was there when you’re on Broad Street,” Engelhart said.

In addition, the lot is an unusual shape, more like a trapezoid, which allows for a variance to be requested, according to town code.

“It’s a unique piece of property that was subdivided years ago,” Green said.

He stated that he supports the variance request, which will mostly affect his home at 1 Harrison Avenue.

Suzanne and Doug Parks of 115 Broad Street, Mary and Danny Moore of 218 Broad Street and Linda Palmer of 107 Henrys Mill Drive also stated no objection to endorsing the variance request.

The homeowners to the west of the property offered no statements.

In the event that the homeowner wishes to expand the deck, that would require seeking another variance.