The Zoning Board of Adjustment on Aug. 26 approved a variance allowing driveway expansion at 85 Hills Ferry Road, aiming to reduce on-street parking and improve vehicle safety. The motion passed 3–2.

Scott Dillon, who spoke for the applicants, described plans to widen the driveway by 12 feet to a total width of 34 feet to accommodate additional family vehicles and a trailer. Dillon said the project would be asphalt, would not encroach on easements, and is intended to “improve safety, entering and exiting the property, reduce the need for on street parking, improve neighborhood traffic flow, and then enhance properties functionality with, minimal visual change.”

Board members were split on whether the lot’s characteristics constituted a special condition that justified the variance. JP Boucher said the request was reasonable to get cars off the road and supported the application. Member Steve Lionel said he was “on the fence” because the lot is similar to neighboring lots and he was uncertain that the property was sufficiently distinct.

Vice Chair Josh Neely, noting the house sits toward the front of a small lot and that the owners said cars sometimes stick into the road, said he supported the request for safety reasons. The board approved the variance by voice vote, recorded as passing 3–2. The chair reminded the applicants of the 30-day appeal period.