Zoning Board of Appeals

City of Cortland – Zoning Board of Appeals Zoning Board of Appeals City of Cortland Regular meeting of December 11, 2017 A regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was held on Monday, December 11, 2017 at 5:00 PM in the Mayor’s Conference Room at City Hall. Present: Commissioners Scott Steve, Karen Leahy, Maria Manning, and Beau Harbin Excused: Commissioner Juliene Ray Staff: Zoning Officer Bob Rhea, Deputy Chief Bill Knickerbocker, Confidential Secretary Devon Rainbow Item #1 – 19 West Court St. (DelVecchio) – Interpretation – (R4)  3 Unrelated A letter was submitted by the applicant to table the item until January. A motion was made by Comm. Manning to table item #1 until January’s meeting and seconded by Comm. Harbin. Approved: Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Item #2 – 35 Charles St. (Tobin) – Use Variance – (R4)  Additional driveway on South side of property Tom Tobin was present for the meeting. He explained that he would like to add 1 parking space on the south side of the property to make entering and exiting easier. All 3 properties used to be owned by the family, currently 37 was sold and parking is complicated. He would like to keep a 4’ vegetative strip between the new parking area and the neighbor. Melvin Drake was present for the meeting. He lives at the property out back. He has tried to work out parking with the new tenants at 37 but they are not interested. Helen Spaulding lives next door to the property. She has concerns regarding the extra parking space. The road is one-way and congested enough with Catholic Charities, St. Mary’s and the large delivery trucks. She is concerned that there would be issues with snow removal and water flow. Currently her basement floods and she fears the parking would make it worse. Letters were submitted from other neighbors opposing the project. Comm. Harbin was concerned that there was no survey of the property and all the dimensions are guesses. A motion was made by Comm. Harbin to close the public hearing and seconded by Comm. Manning. Minutes of the December 11, 2017 Meeting 1  City of Cortland – Zoning Board of Appeals Approved: Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 The Board members reviewed the test questions to determine whether the variance should be considered for granting or denial.  Concerns for storm water; neighbors could figure out a parking arrangement or park out back. A motion was made by Comm. Harbin to deny the application based on the review and concerns brought forward. Comm. Manning seconded the motion. Denied: Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Minutes: Approval of November 13, 2017 minutes as presented, motion by Comm. Leahy and seconded by Comm. Manning. Approved: Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 New/Old Business: There is a business sign on Summit St. that should not be up. ZEO will follow up on it. Adjournment: On the motion of Comm. Harbin and seconded by Comm. Leahy, voted and carried to adjourn meeting Approved: Ayes – 4 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 DECEMBER IN THE YEAR 2017 SCOTT STEVE, ZBA MEMBER Minutes of the December 11, 2017 Meeting 2