HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA Minutes 1966-07-26 55
TOWN OF ITHACA
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
JULY 269 1966
A meeting of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Board of Appeals was
held at the Town Offices , 108 East Green Street , City of
Ithaca , at 7 : 30 P . M . on Tuesday , July 26 , 1966 .
Members of the Board present were : Chairman David Powers ,
C . A . Tilton , Robert Powers , Zoning Officer Anselm Be Soyring
and Secretary Cheryl S . Beninati .
Also present were : Vincent Franciamone , Murray F . Lewis ,
Attorney for V . Franciamone , Mr . and Mrs . Maurice V . Marion ,
Mr . and Mrs . Russell Martin , Bruce G . Dean , Attorney for Mr .
and Mrs . Martin , Mr . and Mrs . Robert Sweet , Mr . and Mrs .
Rafael Littauer , Noel Desch , et al .
FIRST CASE : VINCENT FRANCIAMONE -108 RIDGECREST ROAD -VARIANCE
A Second Public Hearing was called to order at 7 : 45 P . M .
Zoning Officer Soyring read the legal ad as published in the
Ithaca Journal .
Mr . Franciamone and his attorney , Murray F . Lewis , appeared
before the Board requesting a variance after denial of a
building permit to build a subordinate apartment at 108 Ridge -
crest Road , which permit was denied due to the fact that the
sideline requirement of 40 , was not met , as further stated in
the minutes of the June 21 meeting . Mr . Franciamone had
already commenced work on the building under the assumption
that his original building permit which he had obtained when
he constructed the original dwelling was still valid . He
applied to the Board for a variance in order to continue
construction of the subordinate apartment .
After examining the sketch on the reverse side of Mr .
Franciamone ' s application , it was discovered that Mr .
Franciamone has only six feet on the south side of the present
dwelling . Mr . Franciamone had sold the lot which is now
110 Ridgecrest Road , which left him with only 6 feet on that
side . He stated that he completed the present dwelling
shortly after he sold this lot .
The question was raised by Mr . Robert Powers with reference
to the Zoning Ordinance requiring a secondary unit to be not
more than 50 % of the floor area , excluding the basement , of
a primary dwelling . The primary dwelling is now 780 square
feet ; the secondary unit is shown to be 520 square feet ,
exclusive of the carport .
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Mr . Lewis pointed out in behalf of his client that Mr .
Franciamone would not be changing the character of the neighbor -
hood and that there were no objectors appearing at the public
hearing . Mr . Lewis also felt that there is a hardship present
in this case because of the lot size and the ordinance change
after Mr . Franciamone had purchased the lot , and that there
was a non- conforming use because of the nature of the lot
size .
The Board members adjourned for ten minutes after which they
arrived at the following :
FINDINGS OF FACT :
1 . It has not been shown that the situation is unique .
2 . It has not been shown that there is a hardship
involved .
3 . The owner may continue to use the property Jin the
manner . in which it was intended to be used ..
4 . The granting of the variance is not consistent with
the spirit of the Zoning Ordinance .
Upon motion by Mr . Robert Powers , seconded by Mr . Tilton ,
and carried by unanimous vote , the foregoing findings of
fact were adopted , and Mr . Franciamone was denied his request
for a variance .
It was pointed out to Mr . Franciamone by Mr . Soyring , Zoning
Officer , that he could request a building permit to convert
the partially constructed secondary unit into a garage , which
would be permissible under the Zoning Ordinance ,
SECOND CASE : MAURICE V . . MARION - 1431 SLATERVILLE ROAD
This Public Hearing was called to order at 8 : 30 P . M . Mr .
Soyring read the legal ad as published in the Ithaca Journal .
Mr . Marion had applied for a permit to extend a roadway stand
which application was denied under Article IV , Sections 12
and 13 of the Zoning Ordinance . Mr . Marion stated that he
wanted to move his stand back from the road and extend the
same , which would improve traffic conditions and conform to
the character of the neighborhood . However , this would
involve the extension of a non - conforming use .
Mr . Marion also pointed out the fact that the proposed
stand would be located 63 feet from the center of the high.
way ; the right . of way is 66 feet ; therefore , the stand would
be approximately 30 feet from the right of way .
Several residents from the area appeared at the public
hearing , in opposition to the granting of the variance .
Attorney Bruoe G . Dean , representing Mr . and Mrs . Russell
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Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes - July 26 , 1966 Page 2
Martin , stated that his clients were concerned about Mr .
Marion extending this use and making this area into a large
commercial area . Mr . Marion replied that the expansion was
merely to provide room for a refrigerator unit which would
mean providing his customers with a better quality product .
A question was raised as to Mr . Marion ' s greenhouse on his
property . However , it was pointed out that this is a permitted
use .
Mr . Rafael Littauer raised the question as to what the area
between the road and the proposed location of the stand would
consist of , and Mr . Marion stated that this area would be
blacktopped .
Esther Martin ( Mrs . Russell Martin ) asked whether the present
stand was existing when the 1960 Zoning Ordinance came into
effect . Mr . Marion stated that in 1958 it was a small road -
side stand and read several letters from neighbors stating
that the stand was built prior to 1960 . He also read a
letter signed by several neighbors who stated they did not
oppose the granting of a variance .
Mr . Dean stated that he did not see any unpractical difficulty
or hardship in Mr . Marionis application.-iand requested that
his application for a variance be denied on this 1m, sis .
Upon motion by Mr . Robert Powers , seconded by Mr . Tilton
and carried by unanimous vote , Mr . Marion1s appeal for a
variance was denied in that it was not shown that there are
practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship , other than
financial .
It was pointed out to Mr . Marion by Zoning Officer Soyring
that Mr . Marion is required to move his stand back from the
roadway and also reduce the sign to one square foot in area .
This meeting was adjourned at 10 : 10 P . M '
Respectfully submitted ,
Cheryl S . Beninati
Secretary