The Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals will hear the appeal of neighbors about the two-story garage that is being built on Morse Street on the Southside of Watertown.
The garage replaced one that had been condemned, which is typically allowed by the Town without requiring approval from the ZBA, said Community Development and Planning Director Steve Magoon.
However, neighbors contend that the garage is two stories tall, has windows on the second floor, and have reported seeing plumbing being installed.
The garage is also about five feet from the back property line.
See the documents submitted to the Watertown Planning Department by clicking here.
Residents spoke out against the garage and the Zoning decision at last week’s Town Council meeting.
TOWN OF WATERTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE
ARTICLE IV GENERAL USE AND DIMENSIONAL REGULATIONS
SECTION 4.07 RECONSTRUCTION OF A NON-CONFORMING BUILDING AFTER CATASTROPHE, If a non-conforming building or use shall have been damaged by fire, explosion or other catastrophe, such building may be rebuilt or restored and used again subject to the following provisions: (a) no non-conformity shall be increased in area or degree of non-conformity beyond the state existing prior to the catastrophe, as determined by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, subject to the provisions of §4.06(a);
SECTION 4.06 ALTERATION OF NON-CONFORMING USES AND BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES (a) Except as hereinafter provided, this Zoning…shall apply to any change…to a building…, to any reconstruction, extension or structural change of such structure… pre-existing non-conforming structures or buildings may also be extended…provided that no such change, extension, structural change or alteration shall be permitted unless there is a Special Permit Finding by the Board of Appeals that such change, extension or alteration shall not be substantially more detrimental than the existing non-conforming use, structure or building to the neighborhood…
ARTICLE IX ENFORCEMENT AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES
SECTION 9.20 AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE (e) …amendments to this Zoning Ordinance…shall apply to any change…to a building…, to any reconstruction, extension, or structural change of such structure and to any alteration of structure begun after the first notice of said public hearing to provide for its use for a substantially greater extent…
ARTICLE VI AUTOMOTIVE AND BICYCLE PARKING REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 6.02 LOCATION AND DESIGN OF OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES (j) … For one, two, three, four family and/or row houses…no…parking area shall be closer than…ten (10) feet from the rear lot line…