Home Destroyed by Fire to be Rebuilt Slightly Larger

A waterfront home on Chebacco Lake that was destroyed by fire the week before Christmas last year has been given the OK to be rebuilt slightly larger.

Homeowner Sheila Laing said her home, at 1 Beech St., and has been condemned and will be torn town. Laing presented an artist conception to the Zoning Board of Appeals last week showing what the home will look like rebuild on the property. She plans to add about 600 square feet of additional living space on the second floor.

The fire struck just a few months after Laing moved in and was undertaking some renovations to the home. Her cocker spaniel dog, Jasper, was rescued from the basement by Hamilton firefighters during the fire. Nobody was injured.

The home will be rebuild on the same footprint, but a half story will be added containing a bedroom and bathroom.

The work needed a permit from the Zoning Board since the plan involved expanding an already non-conforming building.

The ZBA, in granting approval, said the new home’s size and height is “in keeping with the character of the neighborhood.” It later said that the newly proposed half story “will not detract from the surrounding neighborhood.” A complete copy of its decision is attached as a PDF to this story.

After a 20 day appeal period is over, a building permit can be issued.

The plan has already received permits from the Conservation Commission.

“My neighbors are wonderful, they wrote letters in support,” Laing said before the ZBA at . “I will no longer be living in a trailer (on the property).”