Court Opinion

ID: 4269319
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-24 00:13:56.585404+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:31.814454
License: Public Domain

STATE OF VERMONT

                                ENVIRONMENTAL COURT

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In re: Appeal of                   }
 Omer Martin                }      Docket No. 34-3-99 Vtec
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                   Decision and Order on Motion for Summary Judgment

       Appellant appealed from a decision of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) of the
City of St. Albans denying his application for a variance to construct a deck within the
sideline setback.    Appellant is represented by Joseph F. Cahill, Esq.; the City is
represented by Robert Farrar, Esq., but has not taken an active role in briefing the
summary judgment motion. Appellant=s neighbors do not oppose the application.
       Appellant=s house is a preexisting structure, non-conforming as to the sideline
setback. It is located approximately seven feet from the westerly side property line at issue
in the present case. The sideline setback requirement in the Zoning Regulations from at
least 1988 to the present has been 15 feet.
       In 1988 Appellant received a zoning permit for an addition on the rear or southerly
side of the house. The westerly side of the addition is located ten feet from the westerly
property boundary, that is, extending into the sideline setback by five feet. Evidence was
not presented to indicate whether the ZBA issued a variance for that construction.
       In 1993 Appellant received another zoning permit for another addition on the rear or
southerly side of the house. The westerly side of the 1993 addition is also located ten feet
from the westerly property boundary, that is, extending into the sideline setback by five
feet. The width of the addition is 25 feet. Evidence was not presented to indicate whether
the ZBA issued a variance for that construction. The 1993 addition included a six-foot-wide
patio door located in the westerly corner of the rear wall of that addition. The concrete
piers, beam and electrical wiring were designed to locate the patio door in that location.
       The present application proposes a 102' x 172' deck addition to be built as an
extension to the rear of the house. The 172-foot width of the deck is not proposed to be

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centered on the rear 25-foot width of the house. Rather, it is proposed to be aligned with
the westerly wall of the house, which will mean that the deck will also extend into the side
setback by five feet. This alignment is proposed because of the location of the patio door
approved in the 1993 permit. If the deck were aligned to comply with the side setback, the
full width of the patio door would not be useable.
       In order to qualify for a variance, Appellant must meet all five requirements of 24
V.S.A. '4468(a) or its equivalent in the particular municipality=s zoning regulations.
       In the present case, the only unique physical circumstance peculiar to the lot and
not attributable to the effect of the zoning regulations generally is the placement of the
patio door within the setback area in the southwesterly corner of the previous addition.
That physical circumstance was created by the approval of the 1993 addition which itself
was within the setback area and by the approval of the rear door within the setback area. If
the 1993 addition had been required to have been built five feet narrower, with a complying
side yard setback, or if its rear door had been required to have been located five feet or
more to the east, Appellant would be able to construct an entirely complying deck. The
hardship was not caused by Appellant, who constructed the 1993 addition in compliance
with the permit issued for it. The construction of an entirely complying deck would impair
the residential use of the existing house by eliminating the existing rear exit.         The
requested variance would not alter the essential character of the neighborhood or impair
the use of adjacent property, and no neighbors have stated any opposition to the proposal.
Nor would it reduce access to renewable energy resources or be detrimental to the public
welfare. Accordingly, 24 V.S.A. ''4468(a)(1) through (4) are met.
       However, the requested variance is not the minimum variance to afford relief and is
not the least deviation possible from the zoning regulation. The minimum variance
necessary to afford relief would be a variance to construct only such length of the deck
within the setback as is necessary to provide a landing area outside the patio door
sufficient for persons, including those using a wheelchair, to exit the house and turn to
proceed onto the complying area of the deck. Beyond such a landing to the south, a
variance is not necessary to afford relief: the deck may be constructed to comply with the
sideline setback beyond that point. The following drawing is provided to illustrate the

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Court=s ruling and is not intended to determine the exact size of the landing authorized by
this decision.

       Accordingly, based on the foregoing, Appellant=s Motion for Summary Judgment is
granted in part and denied in part. A variance is granted for Appellant to construct only
such length of the deck, within the setback area beyond the patio door to the south, as is
necessary to provide a landing area outside the patio door sufficient for persons, including
those using a wheelchair, to exit and turn to proceed onto the complying area of the deck.
Further to the south of that landing, the deck shall be constructed in compliance with the
15-foot west side setback. If Appellant wishes to extend the deck to the east to
compensate for the segment not authorized by this decision, such amended application
does not appear to require a variance and is not before the Court in the present decision.
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       Done at Barre, Vermont, this 19 day of April, 2000.

                            _________________________________________________
                                 Merideth Wright
                                 Environmental Judge

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