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 — May 6, 2021. The Board met via Zoom videoconference under the Governor’s Executive Order. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt explained the Zoom procedure, noted the meeting notice was posted in the newspapers, that the meeting was being recorded (to be posted to the town website and transcribed later), and that minutes were being taken.
Public hearing
There were no public hearings scheduled.
Regular meeting
Chairman Ed McDonough opened the meeting at 7:30 PM with roll call. Present: Ed McDonough (Chairman), Kristin Griswold, and Jason Shover. Absent: Rich Geddis (at a village board meeting, intending to join later) and Lettie Saheim. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt and Clerk Elizabeth Hale were also present.
- April 1, 2021 minutes approved as submitted (Shover · Griswold — Ayes: McDonough, Griswold, Shover; Nays: none).
Buildable-lot inquiry — 238 Turner Road
Chairman McDonough relayed an inquiry from Zachary Bourdeau, a potential buyer of a 14-acre parcel at 238 Turner Road that contains an existing dilapidated structure he would like to raze before building a new residence. He requested a letter from a Town official for his mortgaging bank stating the lot is buildable. Attorney Pratt consulted the Chairman, Planning Board Chairman Frank Alessandrini, and Building Inspector Scott Frisino. Mr. Alessandrini noted the road frontage is narrow but the lot is pre-existing, located at the end of Turner Road where there is no existing town road. Attorney Pratt will draft a letter for Building Inspector Frisino to forward to the potential buyer, showing the lot is buildable and has acceptable access.
Remodel Now — rezoning referral, Route 40
The Board reviewed Carl Godfrey’s appeal to the Town Board to rezone two contiguous lots (a ¼-acre lot and one measuring nearly ½ acre) in an R district on NYS Route 40 north of the old Melrose railroad bridge, from Residential to Highway Commercial, to run a renovation business out of the existing concrete block building (formerly a plumbing supply business). The Town Board requested the Planning Board’s opinion on the rezoning. A change in the district’s zoning sparked concern about “spot zoning”; the Board did not find an inconsistency between the building’s former commercial use and its intended purpose, but noted the proposed business is inconsistent with the surrounding residential properties. Attorney Pratt said she would draft an opinion and first send it to the ZBA for review, after which it would be forwarded to the Town Board.
Adjourned at 8:02 PM (McDonough · Shover — Ayes: McDonough, Griswold, Shover; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, ZBA Clerk (dated June 5, 2021).
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