HomeMy WebLinkAbout5053 - 21 Lewis Bay Rd - Letter of Opposition 15053 — 21 Lewis Bay Road
From: Marilyn Brown & Frank Southworh
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2023 11:18 PM
To: dfallon@yarmouth.ma.us
September 15, 2023
Dear Yarmouth Zoning Board of Appeals,
RECEIVED
SEP 19 2023
YARMOUTH
BOARD OF APPEALS
We oppose petition 5053 that requests variances to allow a proposed new house
to be built at 21 Lewis Bay Road, West Yarmouth. The petition will be discussed at
the Zoning Board's meeting on Thursday, Sept 28, 2023.
We own our home at 40 Lorena Rd. in West Yarmouth, and we are on the list of
properties to be consulted.
The proposed 3-story home with a roof deck that extends nearly 40 feet from
ground level, on a 5500 square foot lot, is inappropriate. The current house covers
about 15% of their lot. The proposed house would cover 29% of their lot. In
addition, the new home's three floors would lead to an unusually large square
footage and a towering height.
To be granted a variance "The applicant must show a hardship imposed by the
bylaw which is caused by a unique condition of the lot, or structure, and the
hardship is owing to circumstances relating to the soil conditions, shape or
topography of the land or structure and especially affecting the land or structures,
but not affecting generally the zoning district in which it is located." We do not
believe there is any hardship imposed by this typical rectangular lot that is nearly
identical to ours and is similar to most of the other lots in the neighborhood. The
homes on either side of the proposed home, and the applicant's current home, are
very similar to ours.
We were not shown these house plans by the current owners of the lot. Indeed,
now that we see them on the website, it is difficult to imagine what is being
proposed. However, after much overlining of the plans, it quickly becomes clear
that this home would be out of character both in lot coverage and height. There
are no other homes in the immediate neighborhood that are as large as the planned
home. Indeed, the proposed home would be one story higher than other homes in
the neighborhood.
We strongly recommend that you NOT approve the requested variances and do not
let the new home be built as proposed.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marilyn A. Brown and Dr. Frank Southworth
40 Lorena Rd., West Yarmouth