By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — A second-floor addition is sought for a century-old house on Beachside Avenue.

The house to be expanded, No. 102 Beachside, is owned by Marc and Cathy Lasry, as is No. 100.

The structure, built in 1924, was the gatehouse for a much larger structure closer to the Sound at No. 100, built in 1929. Together, they sold in 2005 for $14.6 million, which at the time was a record property sale.

Chris Russo, a lawyer, wrote to the Zoning Board of Appeals that the current project seeks to add a 1,315-square-foot second floor to the single-story existing structure that has 1,551 square feet of living space.

“The applicant proposes a one-story addition in the middle of the rear of the existing one-story building to contain an additional family room/dining room, two (2) bedrooms and two (2) full baths,” reads the application filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals.

“The site currently contains a principal single-family dwelling and is pre-existing nonconforming as to street line and side lot line setback,” the narrative reads. “The applicant is not proposing to protrude any further into the street line setback or side lot setback than existing conditions.”

The materials state the structure was built before the town adopted zoning regulations.

“As is commonly found in dwellings constructed before regulations were adopted, the existing dwelling was constructed close to Beachside Avenue when there were not street line setbacks in existence,” the narrative reads. “The result is the entire dwelling is located within the street line setback and side lot line setback. No improvement or addition could be made to any side of the existing dwelling without requiring a variance.”

The application says no part of the existing structure will be demolished, and the changes will not be visible from the street.

“If the applicant were to locate a dwelling within setbacks, it would significantly increase the visual bulk along the streetscape as the existing dwelling and garage would be along the road with another visible building in close proximity,” it reads. “This modest addition does not violate any coverages and locates the addition in a place that will have the least amount of impact to the surrounding neighborhood.”

After the 2005 sale, the larger house was demolished and rebuilt.

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.