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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA Minutes 1962-08-13 181 . TOWN OF ITHACA ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AUGUST 1'309 1962 A meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Ithaca was held at the Town Highway Building on Monday , August 13 , 1962 at 7 : 30 P . M . Membem of the Board present were : Chairman David F . Powers , Robert N . Powers , William B . Norton , and William S . Scott , Jr . Also present were : Zoning Officer Robert J . Wells , Richard Berggren , Stanley Tsapis , Wallace Martin , Irene Stump , Mr . and Mrs . Phillip Allen , Georgia I`Ia. cNeil , R . B . Child , Mr . and Mrs . Laughlin , John Johnston , Lee Bostwick , and Hilda Guterman . This is an appeal signed by Richard Berggren for a variance in regard to the decision of the Zoning Officer denying permission to convert the basement of the former Inlet Valley School into a sales and repair shop for lawn mowers . Permit was denied under Section 4 of . Article III of the Town of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance . Proof of publication was presented . Mr . . Berggren stated that unnecessary hardship is created by the fact that the building is not suitable for a residence . It is a large building , difficult to maintain , expensive to heat . It has been rented as a residence in the . past but the tenants have moved within a few months due to maintenance problems and excessive noise created by the railr.bad and highway . Mr . Tsapis , representing Wallace Martin who presently operates the Valley Fixit Shop on the Elmira Road , stated that Mr . Martin must move his operation as the building which he now occupies has been sold . He would like to purchase the school building from Mr . Berggren . For the following reasons , he urged the Board to grant this variance : ( a ) the building is not suited for residence . ( b ) business and industry are not unfamiliar in this area . ( c ) the railroad passes very close with three trains each day with resulting noise and danger . ( d ) , Inlet is also very close . ( e ) sale and repair of lawn mowers is very similar to the use permitted in Section 4 , sub . 14 . ( f ) Mr . Martin is ready to comply with the Zoning Ordinance requirements in every way . Comments were requested from the ' area residents who were present . 182 Irene Stump - Children have attended school in this building for many years and have learned well under the noisy and dangerous . condit ?ons described . Mr . Berggren could realize a fair return from his investment and he realized what the zoning was at the time of purchase . Property in this area is growing in value and am opposed to commercialization . Mr . Tsapis - The permitted use in this zone is very similar t o � what Mr . art in wants to do . Phillip Allen - Am against granting the variance at this time . Mr . Berggren bought the property at a public auction for a very reasonable price . We should not have this piece -meal zoning . The Planning Board should set up specific zones for this type of business . This is the third time that this! property has requested a variance . Georgia MacNeil - Agree with Mrs . Stump and Mr . Allen . Am opposed to granting this variance . Mr . Berggren ' - Bought the property on speculation with hope of being able to obtain a variance for some type of business . It has been rented as - a residence only to have the tenants move within a few months due to the fact that they were unable to maintain it . Also there has been an increase in the traffic since the time that this building was used for a school . , Mr . Tsapis - There is a Light Industrial zone right across the road . Allen - Own this property right across the road and it is zoned residential . Mrs . Dodd ' s property line is the beginning of the Eight Industrial zone . . The Zone Map is slightly out of scale . R . B . Child - Opposed to any varistion in the present zoning . Laughlin - SecondMr. . Child ' s opinion . Also opposed . John Johnston - Also opposed to any change ., Lee Bostwick - Own property on both sides of the building in question and am opposed to a variance , bu tin favor of re - zoning of the whole area . Opposed to piece -meal zoning . Hilda Guterman - Agree with Mr . Bostwick , Mr . Tsapis - The. request of Mr . Martin is very reasonable . It will not deteriorate the neighborhood character in any way or create any problems . Zoning laws were , not made to strangle business . MacNeil - What exactly does Mr . Martin intend to do ? Martin - Have a one -man operation of repairing lawn mowers and selling lawn mowers . Work is not untidy and all is done indoors . Occassionally there would be new mowers displayed outside during the summer . A service truck would be parked � 8 3 ` Page 2 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes - August 13 , 1962 in the drive when it is not on the road . Traffic would not create any great hazard . Hearing is adjourned until Monday , August 20 , 1962 at 7 : 30 P . M . The Board feels that it needs . to obtain more information . Mr . Wells announced the Public Hearings which have been scheduled by the Town Board for September 6 , 1962 at 5 : 00 P . M . through 5 : 45 P . M .. on the following : 1 . Amendment of Section 75 of the Zoning Ordinance ., 2 . Amendment of Article IX of the Zoning Ordinance , 30 - Re - zoning of Shady Corners area ' on the Elmira Road to Light Industrial . 4 . Adoption of A Mobile Home Ordinance . Meeting adjourned at 10 : 15 P . M .