Zoning Board of Appeals

CITY OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT Zoning Board of Appeals Planning & Development Department • City Hall • 355 Main Street • 1st Floor West Haven, Connecticut 06516 Phone 203.937.3580 • Fax 203.937.3742 CITY HALL 1896 -1967 John Clifford, Chairman Chuck Zentarski, Alternate Ed Wise, Commissioner Rich Deleo, Alternate Brent Coscia, Commissioner open, Alternate Carol Porto, Commissioner Brian Miller, Consultant Aleshia Caple, Commissioner Catherine Conniff, Asst. City Planner Stephen Hotchkiss, Zoning Enforcement/ Inland Wetlands MEETING MINUTES OF ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS February 21, 2024 The West Haven Zoning Board of Appeals held Public Hearings and a Regular meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, in the Harriet North Room, Second Floor, City Hall, 355 Main Street, West Haven, CT at 6:30 P.M. PRESENT: Commissioners Clifford, Carol Porto, Coscia, Zentarski, Deleo, Asst. City Planner Conniff, and ZEO Hotchkiss. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Carol Porto made a motion to approve the minutes for the Regular Meeting and Public Hearings of January 17, 2024, seconded by Commissioner Coscia and passed. ZEO Hotchkiss stated the applications for 82 Court Street and 391 Washington Avenue have been formally withdrawn by the applicant. The applicant, Bright Planet Solar, represented both addresses and was unable to contact the homeowner prior to meeting. CONTINUATUION: 47 Noble Street: A request to permit a minimum lot area per dwelling unit of 8,950sf where 24,000sf is required and a side yard variance of 5” where 15’ is required for access/egress to the second story to convert a single family to a two-family home in the One-Two-Three Family Residence (R3) zone pursuant to Article 2 Table 12.1 of the City of West Haven Zoning Regulations. Owner: Patrico Palomeque/Applicant: Sandra Lopez. File # 005-24 V Commissioner Porto asked for clarification on the side yard variance request of 5” not 5’. ZEO Hotchkiss confirmed 5” was the request. Carroll Bowser of 599 North Trail Stratford, CT represented application. Describes the building code requirements for egress to second level caused the need for side yard variance. Lot size variance is required although the property is in a zone that allows for 2-3 family dwellings. Several 2-3 family homes currently exist in the area. Commissioner Clifford requested clarification on the parking layout. 1 Commissioner Porto asked if the proposed layout meets requirements. Asst. city Planner Conniff stated the plan does conform to parking requirements. Commissioner Coscia stated the variance requests do not include parking relief. Commissioner Clifford requested applicant should reorganize parking, so cars do not have to move for one another to exit driveway. City Engineer’s input on whether to allow two curb cuts must be obtained by applicant. The applicant stated he intends to meet with the City Engineer and Zoning Dept. staff to discuss parking layout and requested continuation until a new parking layout can be designed. Commissioner Clifford made a motion to continue application until the design of parking layout has been changed. Seconded by Commissioner Coscia. PUBLIC HEARING: 24 Spring Street: A request to permit a side yard setback of 6’1” where 25’is required on the west side of the property to construct a single car garage in the Industrial Planned Development (IPD) zone pursuant to Article 2 Table 25.1 of the City of West Haven Zoning Regulations. Owner/Applicant: Dustin Morgan. File # 010-24 V Dustin Morgan, owner, 24 Spring Street West Haven, CT. Dustin provided description single bay garage/carport addition to the west side of the property. The addition is proposed in this location to be set away from the FEMA flood zone to the east. Commissioner Coscia: Stated he was pleased with the layout and proposed garage away from the FEMA flood zone. ZEO Hotchkiss stated the sign was posted and mailings were submitted to the file. Comments were read into the record from the Town Engineer and Building Official. Three calls were made to speak in favor and three calls were made to speak in opposition to this application. 17 Great Circle Road: A request to permit front yard setback 22’9” where 30’is required to construct a 16’5”x 28’addition to the south side of the property in the Single Family Detached Residence (R2) zone pursuant to Article 2 Table 11.1 of the City of West Haven Zoning Regulations. Owner: George Fletcher/Applicant: George & Megan Fletcher. File # 011-24 V Applicants stated the proposed addition conforms to side yard setbacks but requires a front yard setback due to the bend in the road. Commissioner Clifford acknowledged the bend in the road shaped the lot frontage. 2  CITY OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT Zoning Board of Appeals Planning & Development Department • City Hall • 355 Main Street • 1st Floor West Haven, Connecticut 06516 Phone 203.937.3580 • Fax 203.937.3742 CITY HALL 1896 -1967 John Clifford, Chairman Chuck Zentarski, Alternate Ed Wise, Commissioner Rich Deleo, Alternate Brent Coscia, Commissioner open, Alternate Carol Porto, Commissioner Brian Miller, Consultant Aleshia Caple, Commissioner Catherine Conniff, Asst. City Planner Stephen Hotchkiss, Zoning Enforcement/ Inland Wetlands ZEO Hotchkiss stated the sign was posted and mailings were submitted to the file. Comments were read into the record from the Town Engineer and Building Official. Three calls were made to speak in favor and three calls were made to speak in opposition to this application. 23 Carlson Road: A request to permit a side yard setback of 11’where 15’is required to construct a 24’x 22’ addition to the rear of the existing structure in the Single Family Detached Residence (R2) zone pursuant to Article 2 Table 11.1 of the City of West Haven Zoning Regulations. Owner: Brandi Dunn/Applicant: Dave Fagnani. File # 012-24 V Applicants stated proposed addition is for growing family. Two bedrooms and bathroom included in proposed addition. The addition will follow the current structure setback along the west side. Approval from the Inland Wetlands Agency was granted 2-2-24. ZEO Hotchkiss stated the sign was posted and mailings were submitted to the file. Comments were read into the record from the Town Engineer and Building Official. Three calls were made to speak in favor and three calls were made to speak in opposition to this application. Motion to go into deliberation, Coscia and Porto Deliberation on Public Hearing: 24 Spring Street. File # 010-24 V Commissioner Coscia made a motion to approve with conditions; - No living space in garage, no plumbing in garage, all required building permits/ inspections must be completed. seconded by Commissioner Porto File #0010-24V. Roll call was called. File #0010-24 approved. 5 – 0. Deliberation on Public Hearing: 17 Great Circle Road. File # 011-24 V Commissioner Porto made a motion to continue File #011-24V, seconded by Commissioner Deleo and passed 5 – 0. Deliberation on Public Hearing: 23 Carlson Road. File # 012-24 V Commissioner Coscia made a motion to approve File #012-24V, seconded by Commissioner Porto. Roll call was called. File #004-24 approved 5 – 0. Staff Reports - none 3 Adjournment: 7:42 p.m. Commissioner Coscia made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Deleo and passed. 4