Commission approves larger rear addition option at 59 Bridge Street

The board voted to approve a rear expansion to the Martha Pittman House at 59 Bridge Street, selecting plan B after hearing from counsel and the project architect.

Attorney Michael Montio introduced the application and summarized a report by a historic‑architecture consultant; architect Daniel Herkenrother testified that both alternatives are modest and that plan B (224 square feet) was designed to remain subordinate in height and massing. Commissioners questioned whether adding an addition to a previous addition might read as conjecture; some favored the smaller plan A while others favored plan B because it avoids conjecture about the original structure. After deliberation the commission moved and approved plan B, citing applicable Newport standards for contributing properties.

Owner testimony emphasized the project’s purpose (an accessible bedroom to accommodate an elderly family member) and the presence of screening and trees that would limit visibility from the street. The commission recorded votes on standards cited for both support and opposition.