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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-17-2020TOWN OF GROTON - MINUTES OF ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS NVEDNESDAV, JUNE 17, 2020 AT 7:00 PNI THE TOWN HALL, 101 CONGER BOULEVARD Z11.4 ♦1kemben Present: Teel Schick, Chair Paul Touts Carolann ®arlin ®an C'erretam 4 Patricia Caines .Also Present: Brian Klumpp, Town Councilperson XV. Rick Fritz, Code Official Brian Bethke, :applicant Dori Bethke, :applicant Oven Bethke April Schefller, Town Clerk Chair Schiele opened the meeting and read the public notice, which was duly published in the Town*s le al paper, the Cortland Standard, on June 8 and 9, 1-01-0. ** The Town of Croton Zoning Board of :appeals %viii held a Public bearing and meeting on XVednesdav, June 17, 1-01-0 at 7:00 Pr\9, for the purpose of addressing a variance application submitted by Brian Bethke of 7 Gulf Hill Road in the Town of Groton, Tax N9ap #= 18.-6-18. Nil-. Bethke is seeking to build an accessory structure closer to the front lot line than is allowed." be then opened the public hearing and asked the applicant, Brian Bethke, about his project. Mr. Bethke -The front of my house has an existing porch and existing stairway and I built a pergola off the front of it, extending out to the sidewalk. The setback wasn*t the proper setback. So, Fin asking for it to be okay. A bunch of the other houses on the road that I live on, Gulf bill,. plus the crossroads, they)re all closer than my pergola. I know they)re vandfathered, but it still sits farther back than some of the existing structures. My neighbors all came over and talked to me and they said it*s great. I said perfect,, send some emails. Clerk Scheffler - Said that an email had been received in support of N9r. Bethke*s project. XVIth no one else from the public who wished to speak, Chair Schiele closed the public hearing at 7:05 pm and opened the regular meeting. Member Gaines - I tient out to take a look todav and drove around and I noticed all the thin<,s that you said. There are plenty of places that are closer. I was wondering why there was the 30 feet setback and «fiat that was supposed to do. There are some buildings that are almost right on the sidewalk there. So, it*s not out of character for that neighborhood. `That*s what I noticed. Member Fouts - XVhat purpose does a pergola have"' Mr. Bethke - It was all for adornment, decoration, making the house look fancier. XVe were hoping to put the sidewalk back and some perennial vines and trellises and nice flowering, just to make it look cool. Chair Schiele read the letter from Tompkins County Planning stating that they had reviewed the proposal, as submitted, and have determined that it has no neuative inter -community of- county-wide rcounty-wide impacts. Chair Schiele explained that the Code required the Board to consider the benefit to the applicant if the variance is vanted, as weighed against the detriment to the health,. safety and welfare of the neh hborhood or community by such a <,rant. The Board then addressed the five required considerations: /. oning /bard of 111peab Ahis wes rage - June 1-. JOJO 1. !f helher un umle.tiruhle chwige brill be 1)ro)chlcecl ill the churucler o)f the neighho)rhox)cl o)r (I (lelrimew to neurhl'1)rl)/)ertie.t will he creule(l h►' the grunlhig of the urea ruri ulce. • Dlscussloll: • Answer: NO ?. Whelher the heneftl .to itghl hY the (q)1)hc n1 cull he uchierecl h►' .tome ulternule melho)cl, fe(ttihle fo)r the (q)1)hcullt to1mrtue, other thun ell urea l'uriunce. • Discussion: Chair Schiele said that the applicant wanted something on the front of his house. Mr. Bethke, said that yes, he wanted something on the front of his house even though the porch and sups were already extended beyond the legal setback. * Answer NO 3. Whether the reyue.tte(l urea l'uriunce i.t suh.vtun iul. • Discussion: All Board Members agreed that it was quite substantial because the porch and steps were beyond the legal setback and the pergola goes further. • Answer: IBES 4. Whether the 1)roj)avec1 ruri ulce brill hcire cul (Overte effect or iml)(ict on the 1)hvvicul or enviro nmentul co n(blio in ill the neighho)rho)o)cl or _o)nhw ch.th"Icl. • Discussion: * Answer NO 3. !f helher the ullegecl clifculty lru.t .self-creutecl, which co itvi(lerulio n .1"hull he relew-um to the (leci.tio n of the Zonhig Mo)urcl of .41)1)euh, but .~hull not nece.vmiri/v 1)rechule the gruniitig of the ureu l'uriul ce. • Discussion: All Board Members agreed that it was self-created. • Answer: IBES Member Fouts - Sometlilm, that is purely a decorative thine is difficult to justify not followIM, the Code. That being said, it*s really not a detriment to the neighborhood either. Member Gaines - If it was building a house that close or building a shed or some other substantial structure, but it*s not. 4 4 Chair Schiele -The other thine is that for certain portions of the year, it s going to be transparent. There 1sn*t going to be blockage. At some point maybe you %vitt have shrubs that are bi<, enough to block the viexy through in the wintertime, but.... Member Fouts - be*s not intrudim, on the neWlibors, he*s not a detriment to traffic or anvthin<I like that. Member Gaines - And you re going to be able walk throe<,h it because the sidewalk is going to be in the middle. Member C'erretani - It fits with the character of the neighborhood. I lived on Gulf bill Road a few doors down for years. I think it will be fine. As was stated, there are substantial structures,. like houses, that are within 10 feet of the road, and Giant trees, and other things. I think it*s just a story of the «dole village being built «lien things were closer to the road. if I u= -i' /. oning /bard of 111peab Ahis wes Page 3 June 1 ". JOJO RESOLI[ TION #G FOR THE YEAR 2020 - GRANT OF AREA VARIANCE MOVED by Chair Schick, seconded by N9ember Touts RESOLVED, that the Towii of Croton Zoning Board of :appeals has considered the request for an area yariwnce presented by Brian wnd Lori Bethke, 7 Gulf bill Road wnd determined that the benefit to the applicant far outweighs any possible detriment to the neighborhood or communit\.. noxy therefor be it RESOLVED, that the Towii of Croton Zoning Board of :appeals hereby grants the requested yariwnce from Section )-1-1.-1 (d) of the Towii of Croton Land Tose wnd Development Code .dyes - Schiele, Fouts, Gaines, Darling, C'erretani Nays - Resolution Passed RESOLI[ TION 97 FOR THE YEAR 2020 - APPROVAL OF N11Nt TES MOVED by N9ember Touts, seconded by N9ember Cerretam RESOLVED, that the Towii of Croton Zoning Board of :appeals approves the minutes of the January 1 i, 1-01-0 C n aiiizatioul Meeting" as presented. .dyes - Schiele, Fouts, Gaines, Darling, C'erretani Nays - Resolution Passed There being no further business. N9ember Touts moved to adjourn, seconded by N9ember Gaines,. at 7:17 pm. L umillous. Apnl L. Scheftler, RNiC Croton Towii Clerk 6.FfGif