Zoning Board of Appeals

CITY OF NORWICH ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS October 10, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes Hybrid Meeting ZOOM & Room 335, City Hall, Norwich The regular meeting of the City of Norwich Zoning Board of Appeals was called to order at 7:07 p.m. Roll call was taken. PRESENT: Marc Benjamin, Chairman David Martin Gregory Schlough Robert Phoenix ABSENT: Dorothy Travers OTHERS: John Rumino; Juan Rumino; Valerie Ann Breor; Leonor Deandrade; Tanice Doman, Assistant Zoning & Blight Enforcement Officer; Richard Shuck, Zoning Enforcement Officer; and Katherine Rose, Recording Secretary Marc Benjamin called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Marc Benjamin stated all members would be voting on all matters. A. COMMUNICATIONS: None. B. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Gregory Schlough made a motion to accept the August 8, 2023 regular meeting minutes. David Martin seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. C. OLD BUSINESS: None. D. NEW BUSINESS: 1. V# 23-07: 72 Vergason Ave.: Request for relief from ZR Sec. 1.1, Residential Bulk Requirement; to reduce the side yard setback from 30 ft. to 13 ft. on the northern lot line for the construction of a 12 ft. x 12 ft. rear deck and stairs, and an 8 ft. x 15 ft. front porch and stairs. Property of Kimberly Rumino, Application of Juan Rumino, Assessors Map # 050, Block # 001 Lots # 008, R-40 Zone Richard Shuck read Exhibits A - D into the record. Richard Shuck distributed photographs of the project that had been submitted to him that day to all members. John Rumino of 372 Mohegan Park Road presented on behalf of the applicant. Chairman Marc Benjamin asked the applicant if they would like  to table the application until the next scheduled meeting where five regular members may be present and the applicant declined. John Rumino stated they are looking to put a porch on the front of the home for better use of the property and to put a small deck on the rear, with stairs that will reach the ground level. Robert Phoenix asked if the property was non-conforming due to the updated zoning setbacks, which Richard Shuck stated was correct. John Rumino stated the improvements would be in the appearance and use of the home. John Rumino stated that the hardship was the zone had been updated to an R-40 Zone which changed the setback lines of the property. Marc Benjamin asked if, based on the plan shown, the decks extended beyond the existing home. John Rumino stated they did not as the stairs for the front porch would descend towards the driveway and the rear steps would descend towards the backyard. Juan Rumino of 91 Beachside Avenue, East Haven, stated he was the property owner and had put a lot of work into the home. Juan Rumino stated he ensured all work was done correctly and would continue to follow whatever the guidelines presented so they can continue to improve the property. Gregory Schlough made a motion to close the application. Robert Phoenix seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. 2. V# 23-08: 105 Asylum St.: Request for relief from ZR Sec. 1.1, Residential Bulk Requirement; to reduce the front yard setback from 30 ft. to 10 ft. for the construction of an 8 ft. x 20 ft. covered patio. Property of Valerie Ann Breor Champagne & Kerry J. Champagne, Application of Valerie Ann Breor Champagne, Assessors Map # 101, Block # 001 Lots # 080, R-20 Zone Richard Shuck read Exhibits A - E into the record. Valerie Ann Breor stated she was looking to install a covered patio in the front of her home to get better use of the property. Richard Shuck clarified that the variance requested is only for the roof covering the patio, and the patio itself was not part of the variance. Robert Phoenix asked if the existing steps would remain in place. Valerie Ann Breor stated that they would. Valerie Ann Breor stated the hardship presented was the lot size and the configuration of the property. Valerie Ann Breor added that the topography of the rear property also made it difficult to place the patio in any other space. Marc Benjamin asked how the extended roof would be configured. Valerie Ann Breor stated it would be built backwards to connect properly with the existing roof. Leonor Deandrade of 104 Asylum Street stated she lives directly across the road from the property and has no issue with the project.  Robert Phoenix made a motion to close the application. Gregory Schlough seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. E. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE DECISIONS: 1. V# 23-07: 72 Vergason Ave.: Request for relief from ZR Sec. 1.1, Residential Bulk Requirement; to reduce the side yard setback from 30 ft. to 13 ft. on the northern lot line for the construction of a 12 ft. x 12 ft. rear deck and stairs, and an 8 ft. x 15 ft. front porch and stairs. Property of Kimberly Rumino, Application of Juan Rumino, Assessors Map # 050, Block # 001 Lots # 008, R-40 Zone Robert Phoenix made a motion to approve the application. Gregory Schlough seconded. Robert Phoenix stated the changing zoning regulations caused a hardship limiting the best use of the property, so he felt the variance should be granted as any configuration will be in violation of the setback lines. Gregory Schlough agreed that the R-40 Zone setbacks caused difficult limitations for the property. David Martin agreed and noted the work would not be going any closer to the property line than the existing home. Marc Benjamin stated there was a way to build the decks within the current setback, but it did not make for best use of the property. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. 2. V# 23-08: 105 Asylum St.: Request for relief from ZR Sec. 1.1, Residential Bulk Requirement; to reduce the front yard setback from 30 ft. to 10 ft. for the construction of an 8 ft. x 20 ft. covered patio. Property of Valerie Ann Breor Champagne & Kerry J. Champagne, Application of Valerie Ann Breor Champagne, Assessors Map # 101, Block # 001 Lots # 080, R-20 Zone Gregory Schlough made a motion to approve the application. Robert Phoenix seconded. Gregory Schlough agreed with the applicant that the topography in the rear of the home caused limitations with where the patio could be placed and felt the request was not excessive. Robert Phoenix agreed and stated he felt having the existing steps covered during winter months would be a safety improvement. David Martin noted that the front of the home was already non-conforming so any work would require a variance. Marc Benjamin reiterated that the variance is only for a roof so there were no present sightline or structure issues. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. F. STAFF UPDATES: None. G. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Robert Phoenix to adjourn at 7:37 PM.  Gregory Schlough seconded. All voted in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Katherine Rose Recording Secretary