CLAREMONT — The city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment is seeking expert testimony on the potential impact of a substance misuse recovery home before it decides on whether to approve a variance.

The board continued its review of the application for a variance from Shawn Cannizzaro, who is proposing residence for up to 11 women at 15 Skinner St., which is in a residential neighborhood.

Homeowners on the street have told the ZBA they oppose Cannizzaro’s plan and said real estate agents have said it would adversely affect the value of their homes.

City Planner deForest Bearse said the board members decided they wanted to hear directly from real estate industry professional as to what could happen to home values should the recovery home be permitted.

City zoning ordinances allow for up to five unrelated people to live in a single family home. Above that number, a variance is required. Cannizzaro has said his recovery home model is based on shared living spaces among residents who live as a family, so as not to isolate anyone because that could lead to relapse of substance misuse.

Solar proposal withdrawn

Also at this week’s ZBA meeting, an application for a variance to allow a solar array on a vacant 12-acre parcel on River Road was withdrawn.

Bearse said approving a variance requires five criteria to be met and one of those is called “hardship,” which means there is no other reasonable use of the property. She said that is not the case with the River Road parcel, which has some frontage on the Connecticut River.

Norwich Technologies applied for the variance for 1 megawatt array covering nearly 5 acres. The property is located in three different zones and in two of those, agricultural rural and rural residential 2, a solar array is not a permitted use, so a variance is needed.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.

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