Spinsterhood not reason to deny home addition

Rick reports on one of those neighbor-vs-neighbor disputes that spilled into a zoning hearing in his North Shore city when one of the neighbors sought permission to expand her house:

... When the floor came open to the public, there were throngs of support until the abutter - some portly bitter woman, got up and lambasted the petitioner because the development would impede her water view and breeze. But instead of sticking to facts she started spouting how the lady was a spinster, had no need for additional space. She didn't have a boyfriend, there's never been children there in 20 years. There was no need for her to expand. ...

The zoning board disagreed.