SWAMPSCOTT — The Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously to expand the residence at 45 Maple Ave. during its meeting Tuesday night. The Board also voted to add two sets of tandem parking spaces for the property, bringing the amount of parking spaces to four in total.

The request was filed by Dizianis Ramaniuk on behalf of Ken Shutzer, Esq. He argued that the footprint of the building would not have to be added to or changed, as it currently has an empty floor that has not yet been utilized.

Joe and Claire Callahan, of Maple Avenue, both warned against making something that would cause more cars parked on the street. Joe Callahan recounted a story in which he said residents of a home almost died in a fire due to the fire department’s inability to get to the residence in a timely manner because of the amount of vehicles located on the street.
“If you come down after 5:30 at night, you cannot find a parking space on our street,” Claire Callahan said. “The parking has definitely dramatically increased on that street.”

Prior to the vote, Chair Heather Roman expressed her support for the expansion, specifically expanding the driveway to allow room for four vehicles in total.

“I think three small units is preferable to large units,” Roman said. “I think it’s what we need as far as getting naturally affordable small units.”