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3 Lemon Street Petition FormDominick Pangallo Mayor CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 98 WASHINGTON STREET, 2ND FLOOR SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 Brennan Postich, Staff Planner Phone: 978-619-5685 Stavroula Orfanos, Director of Inspectional Services Phone: 978-619-5641 Zoning Board of Appeals Application Application ID: ZBA-25-21 Date submitted: June 11, 2025 TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS: The Undersigned represent(s) that they are the owner(s) of a certain parcel of land located at: Address: 3 LEMON STREET Zoning District: R2 An application is being submitted to the Board of Appeals for the following reason(s): Adding a dorm to the existing attic. For this reason, I am requesting: [ true ]Variance (s) from provisions of Section another story of the Zoning Ordinance, specifically from We will be adding another story making a dorm to the existing attic. The height will be the same as the existing house. . [ false ] A Special Permit under Section of the Zoning Ordinance in order to [ ]Appealing a Decision of the Building Inspector: [ ] Comprehensive Permit: Current Property Use: residential Are Lot Dimensions Included: Yes The Undersigned hereby petitions the Board of Appeals to vary the terms of the Salem Zoning Ordinance and allow the project to be constructed as per the plans submitted, as the enforcement of said Zoning By-Laws would involve practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship to the Undersigned and relief may be granted without substantially derogating from the intent and purpose of the Zoning Ordinance. Statement of Hardship (for Variances): Statement of Hardship I am the owner of a single-family home located at 3 Lemon Street, Salem, Massachusetts. I am applying for a variance to construct a rear dormer addition in order to finish the attic space and make it a safe, functional, and livable part of my home. I respectfully submit the following statement of hardship in support of this request: Firefox https://salemma.workflow.opengov.com/ 1 of 3 7/8/2025, 8:30 AM a) Special conditions and circumstances that especially affect the land, building, or structure involved, generally not affecting other lands, buildings, and structures in the same district: The existing structure at 3 Lemon Street has a steeply pitched roof and limited ceiling height in the attic, rendering it largely unusable for practical living purposes. The depth and configuration of the lot, combined with the roof’s existing slope, prevent any meaningful use of the attic without modest exterior expansion. This physical constraint is not universally shared by nearby homes, some of which already benefit from dormers or other structural modifications. As such, these circumstances create a unique limitation on my property that warrants relief. b) Literal enforcement of the Ordinance would involve substantial hardship to the applicant: Without the requested variance, I will be unable to complete the attic renovation, which is essential for accommodating the growing needs of my household. In the current housing market, expanding within the existing footprint is both financially and logistically necessary. The inability to finish the attic would significantly limit the utility of the home and impose an undue hardship on my family, who otherwise must navigate costly alternatives such as relocation or major structural overhauls. c) Desirable relief may be granted without substantial detriment to the public good, and without nullifying or substantially derogating from the intent of the district or the purpose of the ordinance: The proposed dormer will be located at the rear of the house, preserving the character of the front elevation and minimizing visual impact to neighbors and the public way. The design will be in harmony with the style of the existing home and the surrounding neighborhood. The project does not seek to increase the building footprint or change the use of the structure. It is a modest and thoughtful improvement that allows for a safer, more functional use of existing space. Granting this variance supports the continued residential use of the home without undermining the purpose of the ordinance or adversely affecting public welfare. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Brayden Varr 3 Lemon Street Salem, MA 01970 Firefox https://salemma.workflow.opengov.com/ 2 of 3 7/8/2025, 8:30 AM Phone: (617) 800-4977 Statement of Grounds (for Special Permits): Petitioner: Juliana Silva Address: 9 Maple Road, Saugus, MA, 01906 Telephone: 6177676780 Email: masonryserviceusa@gmail.com Signature: ________________________________ Date: ____________________________________ If different from petitioner Property Owner: Brayden Varr Address: 3 Lemon St , Salem, MA Telephone: 617-800-4977 Email: braydenvarr@gmail.com Signature: ________________________________ Date: ________________________________ If different from petitioner Representative: Ms masonry and stone services Address: 9 Maple Road, Saugus, MA, 01906 Telephone: 6177676780 Email: masonryserviceusa@gmail.com Signature: ________________________________ Date: ________________________________ Firefox https://salemma.workflow.opengov.com/ 3 of 3 7/8/2025, 8:30 AM