The Zoning Board of Appeal on Tuesday approved plans by Pauline and Tony King of 164 Savin Hill Ave. in Dorchester to enlarge their single-family home into a three-condo building.

Pauline King and her son's plans call for adding a three-story addition to the current 2 1/2-story house, with four below-ground parking spaces.

The proposal needed variances because, among other reasons, it would have three units in a three-story building on a lot zoned for two-family homes no more than 2 1/2 stories tall, because the new building would be denser on the property than allowed.

The Kings' architect, Nicholas Landry, said the project - originally proposed as four units - would keep much of the existing house so that the project "meets the esthetic and feel of the neighborhood as much as possible."

But nearby Savin Hill Avenue residents said they were "vehemently" and "extremely" opposed, saying variances require proof of hardships and special conditions, that the proposal does not show that and that the Kings could obtain the legal "reasonable use" of their 4,400-square-foot lot by expanding their house into a two-family structure.

Matthew Patton said the $1.2 million the family would make per unit is not a hardship, but that construction would prove a hardship "on my family's ability use our property," due to increased traffic and increased issues for pedestrians.

"It's much too large, much too dense and it breaks all the rules," Savin Hill Avenue resident Paul Ginandes said.

The Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association voted to oppose the proposal. Board member Kristine Hoag, who lives on Savin Hill Avenue, said the group supports greater housing in the area and that it realizes the area could see up to 10,000 new housing units, but that this specific proposal is simply too far out of character on its stretch of Savin Hill Avenue. Hoag said she was reluctantly speaking in opposition because "Tony and his mom are valued members of the community."

The board approved the project unanimously.

Watch the hearing: