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The Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Schaghticoke met at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose, on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Chairman Ed McDonough opened the meeting at 7:01 p.m. with a roll call.
Present: Chairman Ed McDonough, Rich Geddis, and Lettie Saheim. Absent: Kristin Griswold and Jason Shover. Also present: Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt and Clerk Elizabeth Hale.
The Board accepted the June 1, 2023 minutes (Saheim · Geddis · all).
Public hearing — accessory-apartment area variances
The Board opened a public hearing on a homeowner’s application for side-yard area variances (11.03 feet for an existing garage and 10.71 feet for a proposed accessory apartment) on a rural parcel in an RA district. The applicant explained that the roughly 30-by-20-foot apartment, with a basement, would connect by a breezeway behind the existing garage; the setback variances had been identified as necessary by the Building Inspector, Scott Frisino. There were no public comments, and the most-affected neighbor had submitted a letter of support. The Board closed the hearing (McDonough · Saheim · all).
Reviewing the balancing test, the Board found the open and spacious site would not create an undesirable change or detriment to nearby properties, that the applicant had no other feasible location, that the variances were not substantial, and that there would be no adverse environmental impact — and, the Rensselaer County 239 review having referred the matter to local consideration, granted the variances (McDonough · Geddis · all).
Updates
- Al’s Towing. Code Enforcement Officer Brian Davidson inspected the Route 40 premises in June and, on July 3, noted substantial improvement in the removal of trash, vehicles, parts, and scrap. The business’s operator and the property owner had been served and were expected in Town Court, though the operator did not appear; Deputy Attorney Pratt reported that full compliance has not been met and the case is not resolved. A board member noted new “No Trespassing” and “Do Not Block Driveway” signs along the neighboring property lines.
- Other code concerns. Board members flagged a Riley Road property — where the Code Enforcement Officer had spoken with the owner about removing accumulated trash — and a few other properties around town with accumulations of vehicles and scrap that may warrant review.
- Active Solar. The developer delayed its landfill-site application while interconnection points are revised. The Stillwater Bridge Road (Fairgrounds) project is moving forward; should the Planning Board complete SEQR review at its August 2 meeting, the applicant would like a public hearing on the area variances on August 3. McDonough had received revised applications and EAFs on June 27; because the accompanying narrative appeared to differ from the original, Deputy Attorney Pratt will follow up with the engineer for current information.
The Board adjourned at 7:40 p.m. (McDonough · Saheim · all).
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk.
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