Zoning Board Agendas and Minutes

MINUTES OF THE COHOES ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HELD IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Mark Cotch Mrs. Joyce Baranski Mr. Francis Houle, Vice-Chairman Mr. John Hughes, Chairman ABSENT: Mr. Dan Kelly ALSO PRESENT: Ms. Melissa Ashline-Heil, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM JULY 24, 2013. Chairman Hughes called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. The Chairman asked the recording secretary to take attendance. Member Cotch moved to approve the minutes of July 2, 2013. Vice Chairman Houle seconded the motion, roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN John Hughes X Joyce Baranski X Dan Kelly ABSENT Frank Houle X Mark Cotch X CONSIDERATION OF AN AREA VARIANCE FROM FRONT SETBACKS FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AT 45 NORTH ERIE STREET Fred Metzger represented owners Mr. and Mrs. John Hogan who propose constructing a new single family home 11’ from the front property line. The Cohoes zoning code requires a 30’ front setback. As a result the proposal requires a 19’ variance. Mr. Metzger explained that the home will actually be located 20’ from the edge of pavement whereas the existing home is 5’ from the front property line. In addition, the next neighboring home is closer to the road than the proposed 11’, so the proposal will not create a detriment to the neighborhood. Secondly, the slope of the property would require significant fill in order to meet the setback requirements, which would violate MS4 tenets espoused by the City, NYSDEC and the EPA. Therefore, the applicant can not meet the code through any other feasible method. Moreover, the difficulty was not self-created but is inherent to the property’s topography. Indeed the applicants will fill the front of the property in order to meet the pavement. The contractor will install steps on each side and the basement would walk-out to grade at the rear of the structure. After construction of the new home the couple will demolish the existing single family home. The couple would continue to park on a property they own across the street. \\cohoes.local\CoC-Data\Users\mashline-heil\Boards, Commissions, & Agencies\ZBA\ZBA\minutes\ZBA Minutes 2013\ZBA Minutes 7.24.2013.doc As a result, Vice Chairman Houle moved to approve the variance. Member Cotch seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN John Hughes X Joyce Baranski X Dan Kelly ABSENT Frank Houle X Mark Cotch X Member Cotch moved to adjourn at 7:00 PM seconded by Member Baranski. The motion passed unanimously. \\cohoes.local\CoC-Data\Users\mashline-heil\Boards, Commissions, & Agencies\ZBA\ZBA\minutes\ZBA Minutes 2013\ZBA Minutes 7.24.2013.doc