Statement of Grounds_6 Upham St (1)Statement of Grounds
6 Upham St, Salem MA
Our request for a Special Permit for our house located in the R2 District at 6 Upham Street is for the
replacement of a second -floor emergency exit staircase and landing, located in the side yard. The reason
for the replacement is that the current staircase is made of old lumber in poor conditfon, and we would
like to update it using safer recycled materials and to expand the landing to add usable space to our
home.
The special permit is required because the existfng staircase is located 1.4 feet from our rear property
line, which does not meet the rear setback requirement of 30 feet. The proposed replacement staircase
would rest on the same concrete footfngs and would not affect the current rear setback distance. The
replacement second-floor landing extension will maintain compliance with the 10-foot side property line
setback requirement.
We maintain that this proposed change will not be substantfally more detrimental than the existfng
nonconforming structure to the neighborhood , with the following points addressed:
a) Social, economic, or community needs served by the proposal
This proposal will improve the safety of our second-floor emergency exit, reducing the potentfal
for bodily harm by the existfng conditfon of the wood beams and railings . Also, the expanded
landing would serve two purposes: to add usable outdoor space to our home on the second
floor, and to add a protectfve weather-resistant canopy over both the basement bulkhead and
the first-floor back egress, located underneath the landing.
b) Traffic flow and safety, including parking and loading
There will be no changes to parking or traffic flow as a result of the proposed improvement .
c) Adequacy of utilities and other public services
The proposed project will not impact the ability for utflitfes or public services to access meters .
d) Impacts on the natural environment, including drainage
There will be no impact to the natural environment
e) Neighborhood character
The proposed project is located in our quiet, private backyard and will not be visible from the
street, so there should be no negatfve impact on neighborhood character, the natural
environment, or the view of others. The materials to be used are safe, sustainable, and visually
attractfve, and the constructfon is to be done in a respectiul, tfmely manner by a trusted local
company.
f) Potential fiscal impact, including impact on City Tax base and employment
The proposed project could add assessed value to the property and result in a positfve fisca l
impact on the City.
For these reasons, we believe there are adequate grounds for the Board to grant the requested relief.