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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMountappl.pdf Village of Cayuga Heights Zoning Board of Appeals Application Form ZBA AaoGcation Fee: $100 For OM e se nI Date Received Check All That A00y: Cash or Check v Zoning District —�-Area Variance ApplicableS"on�)of V'llage Code: Use Variance � ) � Interpretation�Request p Property address: /� 7J 1 U( (.�/M,� Tax parcel: Z jL Zoning officer's determination: Te— �' 6!2 Requested variance or interpretation: Reason(s)that the requested variance or interpretation should be granted: See attached page for the criteria that the ZBA must use. Use additional sheets if necessary. S¢ a Please attach any additional information that will help the ZBA to evaluate your appeal, such as a narrative,survey map,photos, building plans,etc. By Sling this application,you grant permission for Village of Cayuga Heights ZBA Members and Village Staff to enter your property for inspections related to your appeal. Owner/Applicant: O , I I Signature: Date: I (Ti . Phone number(s): 25Z F3q Z� p Email address: �� 2 C C�of vlC l �` Five questions for the applicant to answer (below) and the ZBA (in deliberations): 1. Will an undesirable change be produced in the character of the neighborhood or will detriment to nearby properties be created by granting the area variance? NO, ON THE CONTRARY, OUR GARDEN HELPS TO ENHANCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 2) Can the benefit sought by the applicant be achieved by some method feasible for the applicant to pursue other than an area variance? NO, AS AN EXISTING FENCE, IT WILL CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE FRONT GARDEN AND ENHANCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. OUR HOUSE WAS MOVED BY TEAMS OF HORSES FROM THE WYCKOFF ESTATE IN CORNELL HEIGHTS TO ITS PRESENT, LEGAL LOCATION ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. A LEGAL SETBACK FOR THE FRONT FENCE, UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE, WOULD IMPLY HAVING IT THROUGH OUR LIVING ROOM. 3. Is the requested area variance substantial? NO. OUR FENCE COVERS LESS THAN 60% OF THE FRONT PROPERTY LINE. 4. Will the proposed area variance have an adverse effect or impact on the physical or environmental conditions in the neighborhood or district? NO, THE FRONT GARDEN, IN PARTICULAR, BRINGS A LOT OF PLEASURE TO MANY PASSERSBY AS WELL AS OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS. 5. Is the alleged difficulty self-created? WE BUILT THE FENCE OURSELVES,BUT IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING DEER POPULATION AFTER 1980 THAT WAS NOT SELF-CREATED. PROPERTY OWNERS WHO DO NOT HAVE FENCES ARE PROVIDING AN IDEAL PASTURE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF DEER THAT LIVE IN THE VILAGE. PERMIT APPLICATION #1 Tim &Elizabeth Mount 303 E Upland Road Ithaca NY 14850 DESCRIPTION OF AN EXISTING FENCE AT THE FRONT OF OUR PROPERTY Construction: 90% open, a few horizontal wires above a white picket fence with 2x2" plastic-mesh deer fencing linking the western end of the front fence to the house. The picket fence was erected in the 1980's and the rest was added after the deer became all-year residents in the village. Our goal has been to install a fence that is as unobtrusive as possible, acceptable to our neighbors but still protects our perennial garden from damage. One could argue legitimately that the wires in the front form an espalier linking three trellis supporting two clematis and a porcelain berry. Height: the picket fence is less than 4' and the wires and plastic mesh are less than 8'. Collapsible: as experience has shown on a number of occasions as recently as this last Fall. Length: 51' of the front property line of 97, and 24' from the front to the house. Position of fence: along the inside edge of the sidewalk between a cypress tree and a lilac, and from the western end to the house (see map). Justification:in the 1980's, it was sufficient to protect perennial plantings using exclosures during the winter months. During the 1990's when the deer became all-year residents of the village, it became necessary to fence the yard to protect our perennial garden. We moved into this house in 1973 because we wanted to be close to Cornell and have enough space to establish a garden. This lot and house were, however, very small and nondescript with no garden, a standard lawn,many trees and a few shrubs. This was all we could afford at that time. Over the years, we have established a fine garden and built two extensions on the house. Compared to the state of the property when we moved in, it is now very presentable and helps to enhance the neighborhood. The front garden, in particular, provides a lot of pleasure to passersby and receives many compliments. This garden helps to build a friendly community in which residents ask questions about flowers that are blooming and often end up taking home plants to start gardens of their own. End: -Property map with fence indicated. -Applicants' answers to the Zoning Board's five questions.