Zoning Board of Appeals

City of Cortland – Zoning Board of Appeals Zoning Board of Appeals City of Cortland Regular meeting of September 11, 2017 A regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held on Monday, September 11, 2017 at 5:00 PM in the Mayor’s Conference Room at City Hall. Present: Commissioners Scott Steve, Karen Leahy, Maria Manning, Juliene Ray, Beau Harbin Staff: Zoning Officer Bob Rhea, Deputy Chief Bill Knickerbocker, Confidential Secretary Devon Rainbow Item #1 – 80 Wheeler Ave. (Sulimowicz) – Use Variance – (R1)  Small office operation Item #2 – 80 Wheeler Ave. (Sulimowicz) – Area Variance – (R1)  Reduced parking space size and number Chair to the ZBA Scott Steve, explained that items 1 and 2 were pulled from the agenda and will return at a later date. A motion was made by Comm. Manning to table Items 1 and 2 and seconded by Comm. Harbin. Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Item #3 – 3 Cedar St. (Caughey) – Area Variance – (R1)  Replace old porch with a new deck - lot coverage Alice Caughey was present for the meeting. She explained that the old deck was unsafe and needed immediate attention. They would like to replace the old deck with a new 12’x12’ deck off the dining room. The proposed deck will be away from the garage. A motion was made by Comm. Harbin to close the public hearing and seconded by Comm. Ray. Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 The Board members reviewed the test questions to determine whether the variance should be considered for granting or denial. Minutes of the September 11, 2017 Meeting 1  City of Cortland – Zoning Board of Appeals A motion was made by Comm. Harbin to approve the application as presented and seconded by Comm. Leahy. Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Item #4 – 8 MacGregor St. (Bible Baptist Church) – Special Use Variance – (R1)  Use of 2 high school class rooms by Cortland Christian Academy Fran Casullo was present for the meeting along with the school principal, Nate Cobb. The project began earlier in the year as the applicant did not know there was a procedure that needed to be followed. This is an education ministry of Bible Baptist Church. Programs and enrollment have expanded over the last couple years and they need more space. They currently own the property at 8 MacGregor. There is plenty of parking and there would be no change in the dropping off or pick up of the children. The project did go to County Planning and Churches are allowed special use. The School is fully run by people of the church. The next step is to get the plans to Code and have them approve them. There are no current future plans of joining the 2 lots. The school was started by the church and is funded by the church. A motion was made by Comm. Ray to close the public hearing and seconded by Comm. Manning. Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 The Board members reviewed the test questions to determine whether the variance should be considered for granting or denial. The Board reviewed the SEQR part 1 A motion was made by Comm. Ray to approve the application for Bible Baptist Church to use the building at 8 MacGregor for 2 class rooms by Cortland Christian Academy with the hours of operation being normal school days and hours. Comm. Leahy seconded the motion. Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Item #5 – 32 Wheeler Ave. (O’Brien) – Area Variance – (R1)  New 6ft fence in front yard Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien were present for the meeting. They would like to build a 6’ tall vinyl fence with an open picket design at the 4’ mark to the top on the sides facing the road and driveway. The applicant wants to optimize the space in the yard. There was some concern from the board regarding visibility to the road. Minutes of the September 11, 2017 Meeting 2  City of Cortland – Zoning Board of Appeals Some discussion took place among the board members and property owners on other options to make visibility safer. One possibility was to decrease the fence from the sidewalk by 12’ and do a 45 degree angle on the corner. A motion was made by Comm. Harbin to close the public hearing and seconded by Comm. Ray. Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 The Board members reviewed the test questions to determine whether the variance should be considered for granting or denial. A motion was made by Comm. Ray to approve the application with the driveway side of the fence would come from garage 12’ towards Wheeler then 45 degrees to the front line. The fence would have an open panel on top 25% facing Wheeler and driveway located 4’ from the sidewalk and seconded by Comm. Harbin. Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Item #6 – 14 Monroe Heights (Desai) – Interpretation – (R4) This item was tabled by the applicant. A motion was made by Comm. Manning to table this item until the next meeting and seconded by Comm. Leahy. Minutes: Approval of August 14, 2017 minutes as presented, motion by Comm. Ray and seconded by Comm. Manning. Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 New/Old Business: 12 East Ave. may need to reapply because of too much time from original application. 24 Summit St. house is up and not done as to what was agreed upon. ZEO Bob Rhea will be looking into things. Adjournment: On the motion of Comm. Leahy and seconded by Comm. Manning, voted and carried to adjourn meeting Minutes of the September 11, 2017 Meeting 3  City of Cortland – Zoning Board of Appeals Approved: Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 I, SCOTT STEVE, MEMBER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS FOR THE CITY OF CORTLAND, NY, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT SAID RESOLUTIONS WERE ADOPTED AT A MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS OF THE CITY OF CORTLAND, HELD ON THE 11th DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR 2017 SCOTT STEVE, ZBA MEMBER Minutes of the September 11, 2017 Meeting 4