Two applications were considered at the December 12 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board.
The first application sought zoning relief for numerous additions and alterations to an existing side-by-side duplex located at 419 24th St. Each unit is owned by a different owner, but both owners were applying jointly for the requested variances.
The lot involved is nonconforming; the current structure there is not centered on the lot and has numerous nonconforming conditions.
Applicants are seeking to raise the building to center it on the lot and to provide two parking spaces under the building as well as additional storage spaces. Among the alterations sought were a third-floor addition and a variance to increase the width of a four-foot deck to 12 feet and to enclose it as a screened porch.
Applicants pointed out that their proposed changes would increase onsite parking from two spaces to four. Their plans called for eliminating nonconforming impervious coverage to presently nonexistent green space.
Centering the structure on the lot reduces the side-yard setback on one side, but it increases it on the other side. Thus the closeness to adjacent structures remains. Applicants noted that they know that building codes require that they need to use fire-rated resistant material or a fire sprinkling system in their renovation.
After considerable discussion, the applicants agreed to amend their plan to request only a two-foot extension of the deck and to cancel screening it in.
In the end the Board approved the variances subject to numerous conditions such as providing a deed restriction prohibiting converting a garage into a habitable space.The second application was for an extension of time with respect to a prior approved major subdivision for property located at Ocean Drive and 20th and 21 Streets. Applicant claims that although existing structures have been removed from the property, COVID and economic conditions have slowed progress.
The Board granted the extension until November 2024. The effect is that Applicant is protected against any zoning changes prior to that date that might otherwise impact the approved subdivision.
