Last fall, the Planning Board recommended several changes to the Zoning Ordinances governing Section 513 housing in order to make it more feasible for homeowners to provide year-round housing, in the form of a second dwelling unit, for Block Island residents.Some of the changes included increasing the number of allowable bedrooms to three and increasing the total allowable square footage. Not all of these were allowable “by right,” but instead require a Special Use Permit.The square footage increase will be getting its first test in interpretation with the application of Corn Neck Road, LLC (Plat 2, Lot 2-3). Owner Celeste Helterline had a Public Hearing for Development Plan Review and for a Special Use Permit under Section 513 (D)(2)(a) and for a Variance from Section 513 (D) for construction of an Accessory Dwelling Unit for year-round residents, on Wednesday, July 12 at the Planning Board’s regular monthly meeting.Helterline’s intent is to build housing for her adult son and his family, and one of the first things she told the Planning Board was that the Zoning Board had determined she did not actually need the variance, just the
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