By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The owners of a Canal Road home are once again seeking variances to make it safe to live in with ever-increasing tides.

Heidi Schoeneck and Phil White have again applied to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

“Due to rising water levels and the increased frequency of flood events, the residents of 24 Canal Road are looking to create a safe way to enter and exit their home as well as provide well needed outdoor space,” the application reads.

“It also includes the addition of two stacked porches alongside the entryway to accommodate mechanicals and allow for a modest outside dining space,” it continued. “The proposal includes abandoning the current entryway and moving it to a higher, safer elevation. It also accommodates improved access to an existing rooftop (currently accessible through an inside hatch). The new entry and stacked decks will allow for safe ingress and egress to the home while minimizing lot coverage and impact to the surrounding area.”

The project has received approval from the Flood and Erosion Control Board and Conservation Commission (with conditions).

From the ZBA, it will need variances for expansion of a nonconforming building in the setback, setbacks for Residence A district, and building coverage for Residence A district, the application states.

The couple’s last plan, which would have abandoned a nearly street-level garage and built a carport with home office space above, had support of Canal Road neighbors, but appeared too much for some property owners across the canal, with land on higher ground, and the ZBA.

It was turned down by the board in September 2023.

“We have come up with a new plan that allows us to make the house safer while minimally impacting the surrounding area,” the couple wrote in a recent letter to the ZBA.

“It is our desire to make our home safe from flooding that is relentlessly impacting us,” they wrote. “Since our last submission, we have encountered several flood events (two in just the last week and one which nearly resulted in an electrocution). We cannot stress enough that this current situation is dangerous and unsustainable.”

The house is the lowest-lying on a low-lying street, bordered by a marsh on one side and a canal on the other. It is one of the oldest houses at Saugatuck Shores, built about 1925.

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 36 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.