Swampscott Fish House addition seen as problem

SWAMPSCOTT – Some neighbors are seeking to remove a controversial new porch from the historic Fish House by asking the Zoning Board of Appeals to revoke the building permit issued for the addition, arguing that the permit was issued according to plans that differ from those presented to other town boards for approval.”The plans submitted with the application for the building permit were dated 2011. These were not the plans presented to other boards which were dated 2009.” said the Friends of the Swampscott Fish House attorney Ken Shutzer, “Our request is that they pull the permit and from that we will request that (the building) be restored to its original condition.”The Swampscott Yacht Club – which leases the second floor of the Fish House – filed documents in March 2009 to build a porch measuring 8 x 25 feet off the back of the historic building, according to Inspector of Buildings J. Alan Hezekiah. The building is located at 391 Humphrey St.Attorney William DiMento, who represents the Swampscott Yacht Club, doesn’t believe the permit should be revoked.”A deviation less intrusive than originally approved is certainly not grounds for revocation of a permit,” DiMento said. “I don’t know what the basis (for the appeal) is.”In the permitting process, the plans had to be reviewed and approved by three boards. The Conservation Commission, Board of Selectmen and Historical Commission all approved the plan.Historical Commission told the Yacht Club officials that the porch couldn’t extend more than 4 feet from the building.Hezekiah said Thursday that he used the 2011 plans when he issued the building permit, which was dated Feb. 11. However, Shutzer said that those were not the plans approved by selectmen or the Conservation Commission.”The Town approved something – that something would have been the plan of 2009,” Shutzer said Thursday. “I don’t know if they would have approved the 2011 plans or not ?”Shutzer sent a letter dated June 9, asking Hezekiah to revoke the permit. Hezekiah refused, writing in a letter dated June 17 that “although different, the new plans have diminished the impact this “approved” project will have on the Fish House, as well as the adjacent environment.””The deck is smaller (in extension from the building) and the slab that exists there now is staying,” Hezekiah said Thursday and in his reply to Shutzer.The Board of Appeals is scheduled to hear the request at their July 20 meeting.