HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BZA-1975-04-07 B04RD OF ZONING APPEALS, CITY OF ITHACA, CITY HALL, ITHACA NEW
YORK, APRIL 7, 1975
At a regular meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals, City of
Ithaca, held in Common Council Chambers, City Hall, Ithaca, New
York on April 7, 1975;
PRESENT: PETER MARTIN, CHAIRMAN
GREGORY KASPRZAK
JOHN BODINE
ELVA HOLMAN
C. MURRAY VAN MARTER
EDGAR GASTEIGER
EDISON JONES, Building Commissioner
Zoning Officer
CHRIS SMITH, Recording Secretary
Chairman Martin opened the meeting and listed members of the
Board present. This Board is operating under the provisions of
the City Charter of the City of Ithaca and of the provisions of
the Zoning Ordinances; the Board shall not be bound by strict
rules of evidence in the conduct of this hearing, but the deter-
mination shall be founded upon sufficient legal evidence to
sustain the same. The Board requests that all participants
identify themselves as to name and address; and confine their
discussions to the pertinent facts of the case under consideration
Please avoid extraneous material which would have a delaying
effect.
Commissioner Jones listed what case No. 1074 is to be.
APPEAL NO. 1074: Appeal of Beatrice Dennis and William Freund
for use variance under Section 30.25, Col. 2
at 1025 N. Tioga Street in a R-3 district.
MRS. DENNIS: My name is Beatrice Dennis and I live at 1025 N.
Tioga Street. I'm here tonight asking for use variance for a
continuation of the business of Dial-a-letter at this address
which was established as a Home Occupation 21/2 years ago by my
daughter'.
-2-
MR. MARTIN: There was a prior variance for a wig shop which
was conducted by Mrs. Andy Andrews.
MRS. DENNIS: My daughter has since left the area and sold the
• business to one of the employees who worked for her, and he would
like to continue operating at this address.
MR. BODINE: Has this property always been a commercial business?
MRS. DENNIS: This has always been a business location since we
owned the building. It was originally built as a hotel and my
husband and I operated a grocery store from 1939 until 1950.
Then it was used for a number of years after we closed the store
as a laundromat operated by Mr. Nelson. When the laundromat close
it was vacant until the variance was granted for the wig shop.
When the wig shop closed up my daughter started the Dial-a-letter
business.
MR. GASTEIGER: Why couldn't you use it as a residence?
MRS. DENNIS: It would be too costly to convert it into another
unit and it would be more room than what is needed for the tenant
on the first floor.
MR. KASPRZAK: What about parking problems?
MRS. DENNIS: No problem with parking as most of the business is
done over the telephone or by personal contact to their customers.
MR. KASPRZAK: Are there any employees?
MRS. DENNIS: No one except the owner.
MR. KASPRZAK: Does he operate after business hours?
MRS. DENNIS: No, he most generally is gone by 4:00 or 4:30.
MR. GASTEIGER: I just want to add that every time a business
changes in this paticular zone, they need to apply for a new
variance. Now, how many dwelling units are there?
MRS. DENNIS: I live on the second floor and a tenant lives on
the first floor in the rear.
MR. MARTIN: Is there anyone who would like to speak on this case?
Anyone in opposition? If not then this hearing is closed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION, BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, CITY OF ITHACA
APRIL 7, 1975
APPEAL NO. 1074•
MR. MARTIN: I move that the variance be granted.
MR. KASPRZAK: I second that.
Findings of Fact
1) According to the evidence presented, it
would be considerable hardship to conver
the space originally designed for
commercial use to a use permitted in a
R-3 zone.
2) The space in question could not be
converted to another residential unit
without violating the density require-
ments of the Zoning Ordinance.
3) The pr-oposed use has not seriously
disturbed the neighborhood and has less
serious impact than some of the previous
commercial activities in the building.
VOTE: YES - 6 NO - 0
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
I CHRISTINE A. SMITH, DO CERTIFY that I took the minutes of the
Board of Zoning Appeals, City of Ithaca, in the matters of Appeal
No. 1074 on April 7, 1975 at City Hall, City of Ithaca, New York;
that I have transcribed the same and the foregoing is a true
copy of the transcript of the minutes of the meeting and the
executive session of the Board of Zoning Appeals, City of Ithaca
on the above date, and the whole thereof, to the best of my abilit .
Christine A. Smith
Stenographer
Sworn to before me this
day of 19_