Vican v. Zoning Board of Providence

This is a petition for a writ of certiorari to review a decision of the respondent board denying the petitioners’ application for an exception or variance to use a dwelling house in an R-3 zone as a five-unit apartment building. The writ issued and pursuant thereto the pertinent records have been certified to this court.

The petitioners own a parcel of land at 156 Medway street, on which is located a 2%-story frame building containing five dwelling units and a 2-car garage. They purchased this property in 1963. It appears from the record that originally the dwelling was a one-family house but…