Board grants Nelsons’ rear kitchen and patio coverage variances; members urge stronger runoff controls

The Chatham Zoning Board approved application ZV26-002 on July 22, allowing Richard and Regina Nelson to build a one-story kitchen addition and patio at 218 Washington Avenue that will modestly increase both building and lot coverage.

Architect Steven Majewski presented the plan and noted most new area will cover an existing wood deck and a larger patio; he said the addition is one story, roughly 15 feet high, and is set well back from neighbors on a deep lot. "We felt that this would be a reasonable request to go forth with — it's in the back of the house and it's one story," Majewski said, adding the house’s existing average height is significantly under the zone maximum.

Board members asked whether the deck was counted in existing coverage calculations (the architect confirmed the patio and some paved areas are the primary contributors to the overage) and whether stormwater controls had been sized to account for the new impervious area. One member urged the applicants to provide a larger-diameter dry well or other mitigation because the town has had severe storm events and nearby sewer manholes have surged in the past.

After weighing the argument that the addition improves circulation and function while remaining low and out of public view, the board moved and carried the application. The approval was conditioned on compliance with the Boswell engineering letter and standard grading/drainage permit requirements.