TOWN OF SARATOGA

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS DRAFT MINUTES

October 24, 2016

 

 

Chairman Clifford Hanehan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the flag salute. 

 

Chairman Clifford Hanehan welcomed everyone to the meeting and proceeded to review the Rules of the Board.

 

Zoning Clerk Linda McCabe called the roll: Chairman Clifford Hanehan – present, William Moreau – present, Thomas Carringi – present, Clarence Fosdick – present, John Deyoe - present, Chris Benn – present, Nicholas Schwartz - present, Alternate Member Steve Mehan - present.

 

Also present: Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert, Town Attorney William Reynolds, Dennis Hodgson  and John Taginski. (Sign-in sheet is on file in the Clerk’s office.)

 

Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Clarence Fosdick, seconded by Chris Benn, to accept the meeting minutes of July 25, 2016.   Chairman Clifford Hanehan -aye, Thomas Carringi - aye, William Moreau – aye, Clarence Fosdick - aye, John Deyoe – aye, Chris Benn - aye, Nicholas Schwartz - aye. 

Carried  7 - 0

Approved

 

Public Hearing for Area Variance

 

Roy Fowler #16-14

300 Hudson Ave.

Mechanicville, NY 12118

S/B/L 209.13-1-14  Conservancy District

Location:  199 River Rd., Schuylerville, NY

 

Applicant seeks the following variances: 3% building coverage, 60' front setback, 30' back setback, 80' two sides setback and a 43' side setback, in order to remove the existing house and build a new 1752 square foot modular home, including the porch, due to the non-conformance of the lot with the Town zoning regulations.

 

The Applicant appeared before the Board stating he'd like to replace the existing camp/house with a new modular home.  He said most of the lots in his neighborhood are 100' x 100' and he has no idea when the lots were subdivided.

 

Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert stated he made an error on the Applicant's application and said the Applicant needs a 1.86% building coverage variance, a 35' front setback, 20' back setback, 28' two-sides setback and 5' side setback; to clarify, these are the correct measurements.

Chairman Clifford Hanehan agreed with him.

 

John Deyoe questioned if the Applicant has property across the road and the Applicant replied yes, he has 100' x 20' on the river.

 

Clarence Fosdick asked if all the lots along River Rd.  are on a sewer line and Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert replied they are all septic systems.

 

Steve Mehan stated he noticed they're all sloped back there and the Applicant said yes, all the septic systems are in the back of the houses.

 

Nicholas Schwartz  then asked where the wells are located and the Applicant replied the septic systems are behind the houses and the wells are toward the river.

 

Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert added that if his system fails he will have to replace it entirely.

 

Clarence Fosdick stated it looks like someone, many years ago, went through the back and put in a berm; it looks natural and beautiful.  John Deyoe agreed. 

 

Clarence Fosdick then asked if this is to be on a slab or foundation and the Applicant replied a frost wall, down 4'.

 

Chairman Clifford Hanehan asked for Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert's opinion;  he stated he thinks it is keeping on par with the surrounding neighbors and drastically improving the Applicant's parcel.

 

Chairman Clifford Hanehan asked for the Town Attorney's opinion; Town Attorney William Reynolds had no opinion.

 

Chairman Clifford Hanehan then read the letter from the Saratoga County Planning Board which indicated no significant county wide or intercommunity impacts.

 

After providing Proof of Notice in the Saratogian on October 14, 2016, Chairman Clifford Hanehan opened the Public Hearing at 7:17 p.m. asking those wishing to speak to please stand and state their name and address. 

 

John Taginski, 193 River Rd., Schuylerville, NY,  stated he believes this will enhance their neighborhood and is hopeful the Board will approve this project.

 

Chairman Clifford Hanehan asked if anyone else would like to speak, seeing none, Chairman Clifford Hanehan closed the Public Hearing at 7:18 p.m. 

 

Chairman Clifford Hanehan then went through the Balancing Test line by line with the Board; the Board found in favor of the Applicant.

 

A motion was made by Clarence Fosdick, seconded by William Moreau, to grant the variances as presented.  Chairman Clifford Hanehan -aye, Thomas Carringi - aye, William Moreau – aye, Clarence Fosdick - aye, John Deyoe – aye, Chris Benn - aye, Nicholas Schwartz - aye. 

Carried  7 - 0

Approved

 

Old Business: Clarence Fosdick told the Board he was working on updating his Agriculture map of the town and asked that anyone interested stay a bit and help him with the updates.

 

New Business: Board Member John Deyoe told the Board that after 8 years of being a member, he has decided to resign at the end of this year.

 

Building Inspector/Zoning Officer Gil Albert told the Board while taking classes in Albany, and after listening to many other town and city Building Inspectors, he feels very fortunate that all our Boards have good working relationships and that even if everyone on our Boards don't necessarily agree, everyone respects each other enough to continue moving forward, working with one another for the betterment of our town.  He is really grateful for that.  He stated he has heard a lot of horror stories at class and asked that all our Boards continue doing what they're doing.

 

A motion was made by Clarence Fosdick, seconded by Thomas Carringi, to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m.  Chairman Clifford Hanehan -aye, William Moreau – aye, Thomas Carringi - aye, Clarence Fosdick - aye, John Deyoe – aye, Chris Benn - aye, Nicholas Schwartz - aye.

Carried 7 - 0

 

Meeting Adjourned

 

The next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting will be held November 28, 2016.  

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Linda McCabe

ZBA Clerk