TOWN OF GORHAM
BOARD OF APPEALS
MEETING MINUTES
JULY 22, 2004
The Gorham Board of Appeals regular meeting was held on July 22, 2004 at the Gorham High School auditorium.
Roll Call; Present: Chairman, Audrey Gerry, Board members Thomas Fickett, and Joe Gwozdz; Code Enforcement Officer Clint Cushman, Town Attorney Bill Dale and Deputy Town Clerk Jennifer Elliott.
Absent: Board members David McCullough and Cressy Mollison.
Moved, Seconded and VOTED to accept the meeting minutes from the May 20, 2004 Board of Appeals meeting. 4 Yeas.
Appeal # 04-175. The appeal of Greg and Holly Lane requesting a 3 foot variance to construct a small deck and patio that would encroach into a 15 foot required side yard setback on property they own at 73 Weeks Road (Map 25, Lot 1.621) which is in the Urban Residential District.
Holly Lane spoke on her own behalf and explained that they wanted to build a small deck but needed 3 extra feet for the deck and the patio. There were no public comments and the hearing was closed. Chairman Gerry recognized a letter from an abutter in favor of this appeal. The Board discussed the criteria. Moved, Seconded and VOTED to grant the appeal as it met all the criteria. 4 Yeas.
The findings of fact as read aloud by the Code Enforcement Officer were Moved, Seconded and VOTED. 4 Yeas.
Appeal #04-176. The appeal of Matthew Doiron requesting an enlargement and expansion of a non-conforming structure, namely a single-family dwelling, with the addition of two bedrooms and an enlarged bathroom on property they have contracted to purchase and owned by David Kingsley at 33 Whipple Road (Map 97, Lot 23.009) which is in the Suburban Residential/Shore land Zoning District.
Matthew Doiron appeared on his own behalf and explained that he wants to add 2 bedrooms and expand a bathroom over a kitchen area of an existing single-family dwelling. The expansion would not be by footprint but by volume. He is only going up, not out. He will not add more than 30% volume to the house. The addition is on the back part of the building, away from the river. The septic system is designed for a 3-bedroom home and gets pumped away from the river, towards the back of the lot. He passed out information on his septic system.
In response to questions of the Board, he stated that this will remain a single-family dwelling and will not be building toward the river. The Public Hearing was opened and David Kingsley, current owner of the property stated that the house was built in the 1950’s and there was an addition in the 1960’s. The septic system had failed in the early 1990’s but was rebuilt in 1998 and has passed all inspections and meets all codes.
The Code Enforcement Officer stated that he has no reports of any problems with the septic system and that it can handle a 3-bedroom home and an additional 2 bedroom that is used by another structure. There were no more public comments and the hearing was closed.
Chairman Gerry read into the record an email from a neighbor, Mr. Bruce Fraser, addressing traffic issues on this road and his questions about the septic system on the property of this appeal.
The Board discussed that it does not encroach into any setbacks and that it will remain a single-family dwelling, therefore not creating traffic increases. It will not exceed 30% volume and that the septic system is not an issue. Moved, Seconded and VOTED to grant the appeal as it meets the special exception criteria, does not violate any shore land zoning protection regulations, will not exceed 30% and will not encroach closer to the river. 4 Yeas.
The findings of fact as read aloud by the Town Attorney were Moved, Seconded and VOTED. 4 Yeas.
Moved, Seconded and VOTED to Adjourn. 4 Yeas. Time of adjournment: 7:40p.m.
A True Record of Meeting: ATTEST: Jennifer Elliott, Deputy Clerk
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