The Hudson Zoning Board of Adjustment needed only one case on July 23 to spark a detailed debate, as board members weighed a homeowner’s request to build a 16 by 30 foot shed at the end of a long Gibson Street driveway, a project that required relief from the town’s expanded side-yard setback rules.
“The variance is to install and locate a 16 by 30 foot shed within the side yard setback where 30 feet is required,” explained Associate Planner Ben Witham-Gradert, noting that applications like this are relatively common. The lot became non-conforming after recent zoning changes.
Grenier argued that the shed would fit the neighborhood and match the scale of similar structures nearby.
“There are actually some sheds larger than the one we’d like to construct,” he said. “It doesn’t conflict with the purpose of the zoning ordinance, which is to protect and maintain compatible land use.”
He added that the shed would not create any safety issues for his home or neighboring properties.
“It would provide substantial justice by allowing reasonable and beneficial use of our property that couldn’t quite be achieved by applying a strict interpretation of the current ordinance,” Grenier said. “Denying the variance would impose a disproportionate hardship, one that’s not offset by any corresponding benefit to the public or neighboring properties.”
Grenier noted that his home, built in 1994, had long been zoned “G,” with a 15 foot side setback on a 150 foot wide lot. The area was later rezoned to “R,” increasing the minimum lot width to 200 feet and the setback to 30 feet.
He provided photos of the proposed shed to illustrate the design.
ZBA member Dean Sakati asked whether Grenier had spoken with abutters and why he chose the end of the driveway for placement.
Grenier said he had not discussed the project with neighbors but believed the shed would have minimal impact. He explained that his 200 foot driveway and large yard require heavy duty equipment, including a tractor and snowblower.
“It’d be really nice to just keep our vehicles in the three garage bays and still be able to open the door, come out with the tractor, and immediately start snow blowing,” he said. “It’s for convenience, it’s for regaining the use of our garage bays.”
The property’s slope and existing utilities made other locations impractical. One abutting family submitted a letter stating they had “no objection” to the shed.
“I can appreciate and understand the applicant’s desire to have it at the end of the driveway for their convenience,” said ZBA member Todd Boyer. “Several utilities in his backyard prevent him from moving it.”
The Zoning Board overwhelmingly approved the variance.
The next meeting of the ZBA is set for Thursday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. in the Buxton Room at Town Hall.