HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA Minutes, June 15, 2000.pdf
Zoning Board of Appeals
Village of Cayuga Heights
Minutes of the Public Hearings of
June 14, 2000
Present: David Allee, Chairman; Kenneth Robinson, David Donner, Robin Cisne
Others: Matthew Ness, General Contractor, representing Marion Stott; Geoff Stern,
Francis Davis, Kenneth Miller, Alice Colby-Hall, Jane McDonald.
Chairman Allee called the first Public Hearing to order at 7:10 PM to consider a
request by Marion Stott for a zoning variance at her property at 805 Hanshaw Road. Mr.
Allee gave a brief summary of the process to be followed during the Hearing and also a
summary of the request. The site plan submitted by Mrs. Stott indicates that the proposed
addition would result in lot coverage of 14%, which is greater than the 12% allowed, in a
Residential District, SECTION 7 of the Village of Cayuga Heights Zoning Ordinance
(Nov. 1993). The existing property, which is a pre-existing non-conforming lot, and is
smaller than current zoning requirements for width and depth. The proposed is a single
story addition on the back of the existing building which will meet all of the other zoning
requirements such as yard setbacks.
Matt Ness, General Contractor and representing Mrs. Ness stated that after plans
were made for the addition, it came to their attention that the zoning would not permit it.
Mrs. Stott would like to add a first floor family room/bedroom bath and laundry facility
to enable her to continue to live in the home in the future. Currently the house has no
family room, upstairs bedrooms and a basement laundry.
Mr. Donner stated that he has visited the property and found that there was
sufficient space between the houses to allow the construction. Mr. Robinson agreed that
he was also satisfied with the distance between houses.
Motion by David Donner, Seconded by Kenneth Robinson,
VOTED to grant a zoning variance to Marion Stott for an addition to her home at
805 Hanshaw Rd. Members Allee, Robinson, Donner and Cisne voted YES.
The second Public Hearing was opened at 7:30 PM to consider the request for a
zoning variance by Ken Miller at his property at 125 Sunset Drive. Mr. Miller was denied
a permit to build a detached garage since the Site Plan indicated that the location of the
building would be approximately 5' from the side yard, which is less than the minimum
15' required, in a Residential District, SECTION 6 of the Village of Cayuga Heights
Zoning Ordinance (Nov. 1993). The proposed building is a small two-car garage.
Although the garage would fit on the site next to the existing house, it would block off
windows that are required by the New York State Building Code. The structures on the
adjacent lots are located on their sites such that the distance between structures is far in
excess of twice the yard setback.
Mr. Miller explained that because of a previous commitment his wife was unable
to attend the hearing but submitted a letter from her, which is on file, requesting the
variance. He also showed pictures of the site and the proximity of neighboring structures.
He also presented a drawing of the proposed Colonial style garage. The neighbors present
had no objection to the garage. Mr. Allee asked if all homes in the area have double
garages and Mr. Miller responded that they were divided between single and double. Mr.
Allee also asked what impact this would have on neighboring lots if they were subdivided
and Mr. Miller thought that because of the steeply sloping terrain it would be unlikely
that there would be any future subdivision. Robin Cisne asked about the upper windows
in the proposed garage and whether this indicated a second story. Mr. Miller explained
that they were for light access and for a storage loft area and not a second story.
Mr. Robinson stated that he had visited the property and found the request for a
variance reasonable. Mr. Allee asked if all the neighbors had garages and the answer was
yes. Mr. Donner said that he had also viewed the property and found no problem with the
proposed garage.
Motion by Kenneth Robinson, seconded by David Donner,
VOTED to approve the variance for the construction of a garage at 125 Sunset
Drive. David Allee, Kenneth Robinson, David Donner and Robin Cisne voted YES.
The Public Hearings were closed at 7:40 PM.
Betty Kord
Village Clerk