Unofficial summary. This is a community summary of the town's official minutes, provided so the record is searchable and readable. It condenses the meeting and may omit detail. Some private individuals’ personal details have been left out. The official signed PDF is the complete record of authority.
Office of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Town of Schaghticoke — April 4, 2019, at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose. The meeting opened at 7:30 p.m.
Present: Ed McDonough (Chairman), Rich Geddis, Kristin Griswold, Lettie Saheim, and Jason Shover. Absent: none. Also present: Kristin Pratt (Deputy Town Attorney) and Elizabeth Hale (Clerk). One Hoosic Valley Central High School Government class student attended.
Regular meeting
- February 7, 2019 minutes accepted as submitted (Saheim · Griswold — Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Griswold, Saheim; Nays: none; Abstention: Shover).
- March 7, 2019 minutes accepted as submitted (Shover · Geddis — Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Shover; Nays: none; Abstention: Griswold, Saheim).
Thomas Martin — Application #1-19 (Tax Map #50.-1-7.3)
Land surveyor Brian Holbritter appeared to represent the applicant, Thomas Martin (present). The applicant owns a 4.5-acre parcel on River Road in an RA district, contiguous to the Hudson River. An application, survey, and short-form EAF were submitted seeking an 8-foot area variance to construct a dwelling with a rear deck facing the river. While the residence would sit more than 100 feet from the river, the deck supports (piers) would be 92 feet from it; the Zoning Code requires a 100-foot setback, so an 8-foot area variance is sought.
Mr. Holbritter noted the dwelling would be in the flood plain; to limit flood issues, ground-floor (basement) use would be very limited (a possible workshop or left vacant), with all living space, appliances, and electrical on the main floor, 3 feet above the flood plain and level with the deck. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt advised that under Chapter 69 of the Town Code the project will require a Flood Plain Development Permit, and directed the applicant and Mr. Holbritter to Code Enforcement Officer Brian Davidson.
- Motion to hold a public hearing on Application #1-19 (Thomas Martin’s appeal for an 8-foot area variance from the 100-foot Hudson River setback to allow deck piers 92 feet from the river) on May 2, 2019 at 7:35 p.m. (Shover · Griswold — Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Griswold, Saheim, Shover; Nays: none).
Other
- Chickens inquiry. Chairman McDonough reported a phone call from a resident in an RA district who had kept 5 chickens and 1 rooster; after neighbors complained she gave the chickens to a friend. Mr. McDonough explained the variance process for keeping chickens where the Zoning Code prohibits them and invited her to attend; she did not appear.
- Former barbershop reuse (29 Melrose Valley Falls Road). Mr. McDonough reported a call from the new owner of property at 29 Melrose Valley Falls Road, a former barbershop building in a Highway Commercial District, who wished to rent it to a social worker for storage of client records. The matter was referred to the Building Inspector, who approved the proposed commercial use and issued a certificate of occupancy.
Adjourned at 7:50 p.m. (McDonough · Shover — Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Griswold, Saheim, Shover; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk (dated May 13, 2019).
Spot an error or omission? Tell us and we'll fix it.