Board approves front‑deck and lot‑coverage variances for 5 Lincoln Street

Michelle Gunther received two variances permitting a front deck/stair reconfiguration and increased lot coverage at 5 Lincoln Street in the Downtown Residential (RD) district. Gunther told the board the existing stone steps at the front of the house are unsafe and she proposed relocating the stairs toward the driveway and adding a small deck across the front yard to improve safety and accessibility. Contractor testimony and a 3‑D rendering in the record showed the new deck would not extend further into the street than existing features; staff and board members said the modest change improves safety without materially altering neighborhood character in a dense downtown block. Because lot coverage in the Downtown RD district is tight, the applicant also sought relief from the maximum lot‑coverage limit (proposed coverage 65% where 35% is the maximum for the district). Planning staff said many downtown parcels are already nonconforming. The board reviewed the five RSA 674:33 criteria and found that the proposal's safety benefits and the lot's preexisting constraints justified the relief. Motions to grant the maximum‑lot‑coverage variance and the front/side setbacks for deck and stairs passed unanimously; the board adopted applicant‑proposed findings as its findings of fact.