Board grants three homeowner variances for Redding Road and Francis Street cases

The Brookhaven Board of Appeals approved two homeowner variance requests on Aug. 20, allowing property owners to repair erosion and to expand permitted backyard amenities on nonconforming lots, with staff‑recommended safeguards.

At 2958 Redding Road, property owner David Carney told the board heavy rains and a prior tree removal had destabilized the stream buffer behind his yard. He said the request — reducing the 75‑foot buffer to 25.5 feet for grading and replanting and for a modest retaining wall and pool platform — is intended to restore native vegetation and reduce runoff. Staff recommended conditional approval; the board approved the variance unanimously.

At 1116 Francis Street, homeowner Natalia Cardellino requested an increase in allowable impervious coverage to install gravel seating and walkways on a 6,168‑square‑foot nonconforming lot. Cardellino said the proposal would keep total coverage close to what a conforming 10,000‑square‑foot lot would allow and that the additional gravel areas will be treated to manage stormwater. The board approved the variance with the three staff conditions listed in the staff report.

Both approvals were framed by the board as limited, conditioned exceptions intended to address site‑specific circumstances while protecting downstream water quality through erosion controls and stormwater measures. Permits and required inspections remain pending.