The Bristol Harbor Inn was on the docket at the Monday, March 4 meeting of the Zoning Board of Review, requesting dimensional relief to add eight new hotel rooms to the third floor.

The relief is required because those rooms would bring the Inn’s total to 71 units which, according to current zoning regulations, would require a 106,500 square foot lot — but the Inn sits on a 74,488 square foot lot.

The design of the proposed addition, which includes a small change in appearance to the exterior of the building, was approved by the Historic District Commission last September.

According to architect Cordtsen Design Architecture of Middletown, dimensional relief is required because the mixed-use development is comprised of largely historic colonial buildings, densely developed, and is limited in terms of what can be done with it.

The application asserts that the Inn would like to make use of what is currently an underutilized part of the building, and “would contribute to the overall ability of the operator of the hotel to serve the needs of the community.”

It also notes that the applicant is unlikely to approach Zoning for additional relief as there is no more developable space remaining in the existing structures.

The relief request received unanimous approval from the Board.