PZCOA2026-00019
Certificate of Appropriateness and Variance
Lot Dimension
109 Avenue D

Background
The subject property originally consisted of a historic two-story wood-frame single-family home with a gable roof built in 1901. The structure was in very poor condition, had been heavily damaged by termites, and left to deteriorate for an extended period.  In addition, the structure had multiple additions performed that were not structurally sound. A property maintenance inspection report was provided, and the applicant submitted a conceptual site plan to redevelop the property by building two (2) two-story single-family home residences with detached accessory garages on the property.  On August 25, 2025, the Historic Preservation Board approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the structure.
 
Request
The applicant is requesting COA approval to deviate from City Code Section 125-197. – Edgartown Settlement (ES) Zoning District and its minimum requirements for lot width and lot depth of a “standard” lot in the Edgartown Zoning District. The applicant has provided two (2) options for the Historic Preservation Board to decide which is the preferred and acceptable variance request that meets the required Variance criteria of the City Code. The applicant has provided option 1; a 9ft dept variance for two proposed lots with the front of the homes facing Avenue D and option 2; a 2ft wide variance for each proposed lot with the front of the homes facing N 2nd Street.
 

109 Avenue D

Vennis Gilmore, Historic Preservation Officer/Senior Planner

Both proposed variance options are acceptable to the Planning Department. The Historic Preservation Board was made aware during the applicant’s Demolition COA review that there was a future intent to build two (2) single-family residences with detached accessory garages on the subject property. The applicant has provided two variance options for lot configuration and seeks the recommendation and approval of one or both presented options.
 
Given that the application meets all the criteria for granting variances, staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Board approve both variance options for the proposed lot configurations due to the future review by the City’s Engineering Department to approve driveway distances. This will give flexibility for the applicant to redevelop the property located within Edgartown Historic District and Community Redevelopment Area. If one or both variances are approved, the applicant will have to apply for a minor replat/lot split application and two (2) additional Certificate of Appropriateness applications for the construction of both proposed single-family homes.