WESTFORD — The Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday approved a homeowner’s request to significantly expand a small residence at 3 Pine St.
During the Feb. 18 meeting, Charles Golub, who purchased the 816-square-foot home in November of 2024, received approval to add a second story, expand the kitchen and construct a front porch. The project will add roughly 900 square feet to the house.
Golub told the board he is seeking additional space to create separate bedrooms for his two sons, both of whom attend Westford schools.
“I’d like to take the small two-bedroom, add a second floor on top, garrison out the roof by one foot, hide the garrison with a nice front porch, essentially make the cottage a farmhouse,” Golub said.
The proposal required amendments to a 1975 variance that allowed the house to be built with reduced setbacks. Board members determined the project required a modification of that original variance, along with a new front-yard setback variance.
The zoning bylaw requires a 25-foot front yard setback. The approved plan allows a 19.1-foot setback for the porch, with a maximum two-foot overhang. Board members required the applicant to revise the submitted plans to correct measurement inconsistencies and limit the overhang.
The board also modified a condition from the 1975 variance that required the driveway to be located on the east side of the dwelling. The driveway will be permitted to remain on the west side, where it currently exists.
Additionally, the board required that a shed encroaching near a property line be relocated fully onto the applicant’s property.
The board voted unanimously to approve both the variance amendment and the new front yard setback variance.
