Benoit v. Zoning Board of Review

This is a petition for certiorari to review a decision of the zoning board of review of the city of Woonsocket denying the petitioners’ application for a variance. We issued the writ and pursuant thereto the pertinent records have been certified to this court.

It appears therefrom that petitioners own a small lot located at the corner of Park avenue and Transit street in a R-3 single-family and two-family residence district in which commercial uses are prohibited. The lot has an area of 1,192 square feet and contains a building measuring 35 by 20 feet. For over thirty years they operated a…