4973 219 Pleasant St Letter of Opposition 1 RECEIVED
To: Yarmouth Board of Appeals AUG 24 2022
From:Tom Higbee YARMOUTH
BOARD OF APPEALS
Subject: Petition 4973 James and Mora Modisette
I am a direct abutter. The proposed barn would lie in front of my screened porch, perhaps 120 to 150
feet away. It would be partially obscured by trees, more so in the summer than the winter, but still
quite visible due to its bulk and height of nearly 35 feet.
I am told that the variance would be 9.5 feet, putting the barn that much closer to Aunt Janes Road than
now allowed by the setback rules. From looking at the drawings, it is my impression that the variance is
needed to place the structure very close to the house and easily accessed from the road.
I believe that the Board of Appeals should deny this petition for a number of reasons, as follows:
1. The town has long-standing rules for setbacks, coverage and the like that provide a
precedent that is ongoing and fair. It seems to me that those rules are accepted and not
overly restrictive. Minor variances, when no one is harmed, are beneficial. This
variance is not minor,given that the proposed barn will tower over the existing low-
profile house and become the dominant structure on the property
2. The barn will be right in my line of sight. Although the petitioners may make an effort to
decorate the place, nothing can make a building of this size anything but bulky and
imposing. In my view,the project will impact the view from my much-used porch and
materially reduce the value of my home.
3. The current homeowners have indicated that the barn will be used, in part, to pursue
hobbies and not for any commercial purposes. I don't doubt those intentions, but do
not know if the activities will be noisy. Moreover, I cannot know the use that some
future owner may have for the barn.
In case this petition is not accepted, I hope that the neighbors can find a way to scale down the project
and conform to the set back rules that now exist.