Milton board grants lot variance

The Milton Board of Adjustment unanimously granted a variance to a property owner who sought to shrink his property.

Maury Horn, who owns the lot at 502 Union St. and an adjoining lot on Willow Street with his sister, Daria, sought a variance to have the Union Street lot be 7,800 square feet, less than the 10,000 square foot minimum in town code.

Horn told the board Aug. 28 that the lot is irregularly shaped and has been cut up into different pieces over the years. By making the lot smaller, he said, he can square up both lots.

John Collier, the town’s project coordinator, said the hearing is part of a two-part process: the lot is approximately 11,400 square feet. By granting the variance, the board voted to allow it to be reduced to 7,800 square feet. The property will be resurveyed and Horn will go before the town council for a lot line adjustment. Collier said once the process is complete, the area reduced from one lot will become part of the second adjoining lot.

Collier said there were two buildings on the property in addition to the house. Both buildings have since been demolished. Horn said he thinks that at one time, the parcel was all one farm that was sold off in pieces over the years.

Horn said his father purchased the property at 502 Union St. first and later purchased the adjoining Willow Street lot for Daria and her husband. He said his sister, who lives in Florida, now has emphysema and cannot travel; Horn lives in California. He said this would make the home more viable for the future.

“We’re just making it neat. More manageable,” Horn said.