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 26, 2015 MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Mark Cotch Mr. Justin Gregory Ms. Theresa Thibodeau ABSENT: Mrs. Joyce Baranski, Vice-Chairman Mr. Gary Sawyer Mr. John Hughes, Chairman ALSO PRESENT: Mrs. Melissa Cherubino, Director of Building and Planning CONSIDERATION OF THE MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 28, 2015. Acting Chairman Cotch called the meeting to order at 6:350 pm. The Chairman asked the recording secretary to take attendance. Member Gregory moved to approve the minutes of October 28, 2015. Member Thibodeau seconded the motion, roll of call was taken and the motion passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN John Hughes ABSENT Joyce Baranski ABSENT Mark Cotch X Gary Sawyer ABSENT Theresa Thibodeau X Justin Gregory X CONSIDERATION OF AN AREA VARIANCE FROM SETBACKS FOR A SHED AT 165 MASTEN AVENUE Eileen Guinan proposed installing a shed in her backyard 3’ from the rear property line. The townhome she occupies lacks a basement. Behind her property is a City owned paper street that Acting Chairman Cotch described as wetlands. Ms. Guinan explains that if the shed met the rear setback it would be too close to her back door. Because of the paper-street the shed is 19’ to the adjacent neighbors’ rear property line. The Board did not find that the installation would impair or alter the neighborhood character. As a result, Member Gregory moved to approve the item. Member Thibodeau seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN John Hughes ABSENT Joyce Baranski ABSENT Mark Cotch X Gary Sawyer ABSENT Theresa Thibodeau X \\cohoes.local\CoC-Data\Users\mashline-heil\Boards, Commissions, & Agencies\ZBA\ZBA\minutes\ZBA minutes 2015\ZBA Minutes 8.26.2015.doc Justin Gregory X CONSIDERATION OF AN AREA VARIANCE FROM SIDE SETBACKS FOR AN ADDITION AT 18 MEADOWLARK DRIVE Trish McDonough requested an area variance from side setbacks to extend the side wall of her home at 18 Meadowlark Drive so she could construct an addition. Built in the 1970s, the City did not have the same setback requirements. As a result her home is 7’ from the side lot line (left side if facing the building). Ms. McDonough explained that her only eating area is a tiny eat-in kitchen. She would propose an 8’ deep and 12’ wide addition for a dining area. The addition will replace ½ a wooden deck porch that sits at ground level. The Board did not find that the proposal would alter the character of the neighborhood or create any hardship for neighbors. As a result, Member Gregory moved to approve the area variance. Member Thibodeau seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN John Hughes ABSENT Joyce Baranski ABSENT Mark Cotch X Gary Sawyer ABSENT Theresa Thibodeau X Justin Gregory X CONSIDERATION OF AN AREA VARIANCE FROM SETBACKS FROM REAR SETBACKS FOR A SHED AT 3 WITBECK AVENUE Stephanie Couture proposed installing a shed 3’ from the rear property line in her backyard at 3 Witbeck Avenue. The shed would be located over 20’ from each side lot line. The neighbor adjacent along the rear property line – John Willsey – submitted an e-mail explaining that he was okay with the location of the shed 3’ from the rear property line. Ms. Couture argues that it is the only way to preserve use of the backyard. Photographs submitted show that it will not create rainwater runoff that would damage the neighbors’ property. As a result, Member Gregory moved to approve the variance. Member Thibodeau seconded the motion which passed unanimously. YES NO ABSTAIN John Hughes ABSENT Joyce Baranski ABSENT Mark Cotch X Gary Sawyer ABSENT Theresa Thibodeau X Justin Gregory X \\cohoes.local\CoC-Data\Users\mashline-heil\Boards, Commissions, & Agencies\ZBA\ZBA\minutes\ZBA minutes 2015\ZBA Minutes 8.26.2015.doc Member Gregory moved to adjourn at 7:20 PM seconded by Member Thibodeau. The motion passed unanimously. \\cohoes.local\CoC-Data\Users\mashline-heil\Boards, Commissions, & Agencies\ZBA\ZBA\minutes\ZBA minutes 2015\ZBA Minutes 8.26.2015.doc