AP 24-0284, 834 Cedar Street

She said the rooftop deck would give a direct, unobstructed view into her backyard of 20 years and asked the board to deny the third-story outdoor living space, citing privacy, safety from wind-blown debris, and gaps in the design guidelines.

The adjacent resident questioned the 3-foot-5-inch setback next to a supposedly non-functioning alley, said the big structure looms over her long lot, and asked for further consideration of the third-story deck, noise, and debris issues.

A Maple Street resident worried about the precedent of residential rooftop decks, associating them with noise and parties, and sympathized with neighbors now facing a massive structure.

Another Maple Street resident said the rooftop deck is effectively a third story, that the guidelines don't cover it, and that the big structure stands out next to small 1920s houses — and hoped it wasn't a done deal.

The owner read a statement from his post-surgery wife explaining their need for space, defended the design as thoughtful and private, and noted the complaining neighbors added a second story of their own in 2011.

He said he and his wife aren't opposed to a second story — it's the third-story deck looking straight down into their yard that worries them, and what it could do to their property value.

A final speaker noted that even if the current owners are quiet and private, future owners may not be — and once the rooftop deck is built, it's there forever.