STATE OF RHODE ISLAND  MINUTES  THE ZONING BOARD OF REVIEW OF BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND  03. JUNE 2024 7:00 PM BRISTOL TOWN HALL BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND  BEFORE THE TOWN OF BRISTOL ZONING BOARD OF REVIEW:  MR. JOSEPHASCIOLA, Chairman MR. CHARLES BURKE, Vice Chairman MR. DAVID SIMOES MR. TONY BRUM MR. DONALD S. KERN  MR. GOERGE D. DUARTE, JR., Alternate  ALSO PRESENT:  MR. EDWARD TANNER, Zoning Officer  Susan E. Andrade 91 Sherry Ave. Bristol, RI 02809 401-253-5570    03 JUNE 2024  INDEX  Page  1. Approval of minutes:  06 MAY: 2024..  Continued Petitions:  2. 3. 4. 5.  2024-18- - Petition of Kevin Moran 2024-21 - Petition of Isaac C. Holmstrom.. 2024-22 - Petition of Amanda L. Valentino..  10  Adjournment.  2    03 JUNE 2024  The meeting of the Town ofl Bristol Zoning Board of Review was held and called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Joseph Asciola atl Bristol Town Hall, 10 Court St., Bristol, RI  1.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Chairman Asciola called for approval of the May 6, 2024, minutes.  XXXXXX  Chairman Asciola called for approval oft the. April 1,2024, minutes.  XXXXXX  MR. BURKE: MR. SIMOES: MR. BRUM: MR. ASCIOLA: MR. BURKE: MR. SIMOES: MR. BRUM: MR. KERN: MR. ASCIOLA:  Mr. Chairman, I need more time to review.  Imake ai motion that we continue until July 15th for approval  Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.  XXXXXX  (THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED)  (Minutes were continued)  3    03 JUNE 2024  CONTINUED PETITIONS: 2024-18 KEVIN MORAN  2.  7Ansonia Ave.: R-10 PI.44 Lot62  Dimensional Variances to construct a 14' x29' two-story addition to an existing  25'x30' accessory structure at a size and height greater than permitted for accessory structures in the R-10 zone; and to create an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) within the proposed structure  that is not located within a principal single-family dwelling.  Chairman Asciola stated that the Applicant has requested to withdraw without  prejudice.  Mr. Tanner stated that he was correct, the Board should have received an e-mail  from Mr. Moran and that he did confirm with them.  XXXXXX  MR. BRUM: MR. KERN: MR. ASCIOLA: MR. BURKE: MR. SIMOES: MR. BRUM: MR. KERN: MR. ASCIOLA:  T'll make ai motion to withdraw without prejudice.  Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.  XXXXXX  (THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED)  (Petition withdrawn)  4    03 JUNE: 2024 NEW PETITIONS: 2024-21  3.  ISAACC. HOLMSTROM  2Church Cove Rd.: R-40 PL.160 Lot7  Dimensional Variance to construct approximately 100 linear feet of 5ft. high  picket fence at a height greater than permitted in the front yard.  Mr. Isaac Holmstrom, accompanied by his fiancé Emma Garcia, presented the  Petition to the Board. Mr. Holmstrom explained that he purchased the home in 2020. After some years in the Navy, he moved back home where he was raised. They are trying to finish aj project to put a five-foot tall fence in front oft their house. The main goal being to construct a garden fence that's also able to keep some deer out. Probably not 100% perfect solution, deer canj jump. But, they want to at least be able to provide some reasonable ability to keep them out of their yard; SO that they can have a better garden, grow more vegetables and such. They've been trying it for years and they decimate every last thing that they" ve planted. It'sar matter of protecting what they" ve planted and also keeping ticks out oft the yard. They' 've damaged downspouts and other items on their house, knocked off shingles from the siding and they are talking about dozens of deer per day in their yard. It'sa very high deer population in this part of Bristol; they just transit the yard all day every day. The fence that they are proposing is aj picket style fence, you can see right through it. It'sanice white style, there is no restriction of visibility, and it  doesn'timpose on the visibility of the driveway either.  The Board reviewed the Petition in detail. Mr. Asciola stated that the proposed  fence is totally see-through, and it won't bother anyone, and he doesn't see aj problem withi it.  Mr. Burke noted that he noticed that al lot ofiti is up and, in the back, where the  stone wall is he wondered ift that was also Mr. Holmstrom's property.  5    03 JUNE 2024  Mr. Holmstrom stated, yes, the stone wall is the back oft their yard. Along that  portion oft the property, they will be installing an invisible deer barrier there, not fencing; it's like  ametal hex mesh that you can't see once you're about ten feet back.  In response to Mr. Burke: ifa any deer have jumped over the portion of fence  already installed, Mr. Holmstrom stated that he had not seen any; however, there are no gates on  the fence yet, sO they would have been able to walk right through.  Mr. Burke noted that his only concern, and that it isn't going to affect the  application, as itisn'tazoning issue, is deer can jump over: five feet and sometimes they don't make it. He thinks the Petitioner may be into it too late, but that might be something that they want to talk to somebody at DEM or someone. It won't bej pleasant ifone gets impaled. The Board usually allows an 8-foot fence. Not necessarily in that neighborhood, but in some  neighborhoods 8: feet, because that's a deterrent.  Mr. Brum noted that he thinks that the fence, in its design and layout, is very  aesthetically pleasing. He thinks its functionality could have been improved, as Mr. Burke stated, with more stockade like. But he also understands that would create sort ofai fortress within the back yard and wouldn't be able to enjoy the area where they live in.  Mr. Holmstrom stated that they had already ordered the fence and actually started  putting it up and afterwards realized that they needed aj permit.  Mr. Tanner explained that they do have a valid permit for the back portion oft the  fence installation.  Ms. Kristina Palmer, 7 Church Cove Road, stated that she did not get notice of  this hearing and after Mr. Tanner checked the abutters list, it was determined that Ms. Palmer  was not in the notification radius, but certainly she could be heard.  6    03 JUNE 2024  Mr. Palmer stated that she has seen the fence and that she feels that the fence in  the front of the house is very high, and the fence dwarfs the size ofthe property. She's concerned that it doesn'tf fit in with the rest oft the street. There are only 10 homes ini that neighborhood. When asked ifs she realized the rest oft the fence is 6: feet, she stated that the only fence that she had an issue with is the one that'sr right in front oft the house and goes along the driveway. She's worried about obstruction of view. She knows it's a picket and you can see through it, but she thinks there is planting along some oft the fence, which looks great, but if there's! planting along that fence it could obstruct it. But anyway the fence is very high compared to the house, in the front of the house. And it's not keeping deer out.  Chairman Asciola explained that they allow a four-foot fence and ift they had to  take down the one-foot, it would not make that much of a difference.  Ms. Palmer stated that a four-foot fence would be fine. The Board all confirmed  that they had all viewed the property prior to the meeting.  Ms. Palmer stated that on the hardship of deer, this would only be in front oft the  house, the deer can walk right around the back and get in. Mr. Holmstrom stated that they will be enclosing the whole property. Ms Palmer stated that everyone lives with the deer in Bristol and doesn'tnecessarily see it as a hardship. She is also concerned that it sets a precedent for later people coming into the Town and coming in and asking for higher fences in front of their  houses.  Chairman Asciola explained that each case is looked at individually. Mr. Burke  again noted that they have allowed as high as 8-foot fences for deer protection, which is what  recommended to keep deer fence out of the property.  7    03 JUNE 2024  Mr. Burke stated that he thinks it is ai reasonable request and sensitive to the  neighborhood. The issues that were brought up, he doesn'ts see any vision issues and it's pretty  straightforward regardless of the input they got from the public.  XXXXXX  MR. BURKE:  I'm going to make ai motion to approve application 2024-21, Isaac C. Holmstrom, 2 church Cove Road to install 100 feet ofa five-footIbelieve aluminum fencing with pickets along the front yard section, in the front yard section of the residence. We heard testimony regarding the need to protect their property from a large amount of deer damage and this ist the hardship from which they seek relief. The hardship with the applicant seeking reliefi is due to the unique characteristics of the subject land or structure and not to the general characteristics oft the surrounding area, or to an economic disability ofthe applicant. As stated, the hardship is the existence ofal large number of deer in Bristol; and until we come up with a solution, ife ever, people will try to mitigate the issue. The hardship is not the result of prior action of the applicant. As stated, the deer exist. The granting of the requested Dimensionl Variance will not alter the general characteristics of the surrounding area or impair the intent of purpose of the Zoning Ordinance or the Comprehensive Plan oft the Town of Bristol. We do allow fences and, as pointed out in our deliberations, we allowa four-foot fence in the front setback area and the applicant is requesting one additional foot, or a five-foot fence. The hardship that will be suffered by the owner of the subject property ift the Dimensional Variance is not  8    03 JUNE 2024  granted will amount to more than ai mere inconvenience; he will continue tol have to deal with the deer damage; and this has been extensive on his  property. Isomove. Isecond. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.  MR. SIMOES: MR. ASCIOLA: MR. BURKE: MR. SIMOES: MR. BRUM: MR. KERN: MR. ASCIOLA:  XXXXXX  (THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED)  (Petition granted)  9    03 JUNE 2024 4.  2024-22  AMANDA L. VALENTINO  20 Beach Rd.: R-10 PL.64 Lots 90&91  Dimensional Variances to construct: a 16'x24' accessory garage structure with less  than the required front yard and less than the required right-side yard.  Mr. Burke stated that the Board received correspondence because they require a  bigger lot coverage variance also, SO they have requested to move the Petition to. July 15th.  XXXXXX  MR. BURKE: MR. SIMOES: MR. ASCIOLA: MR. BURKE: MR. SIMOES: MR. BRUM: MR. KERN: MR. ASCIOLA:  P'lI make ai motion that we move application 2024-22 to July 15th.  Isecond that motion. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.  XXXXXX  (THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED)  (Petition continued)  10    03J JUNE 2024 5.  ADJOURNMENT:  XXXXXX  MR. ASCIOLA: MR. KERN: MR. SIMOES: MR. ASCIOLA: MR. BURKE: MR. SIMOES: MR. BRUM: MR. KERN: MR. ASCIOLA:  Motion to adjourn? Sor moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.  XXXXXX  (THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED) (MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:30 P.M.)  11    03 JUNE: 2024  RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,  Susan E.. Andrade  TOWN OF BRISTOL ZONING. BOARD MEETINGI HELD ON: 03. JUNE2 2024 Date Accepted: 7/5/4 Chairman: CABuk  12