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.
The Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Schaghticoke met at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose, on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Regular meeting — roll call
Present: Ed McDonough (Chairman), Kristin Griswold, Lettie Saheim, and Rich Geddis. Absent: Jay Shover.
Approval of prior minutes
The Board reviewed the minutes of the April 3, 2025 meeting. Kristin Griswold moved to approve them as submitted; Lettie Saheim seconded. Ayes: McDonough, Griswold, Saheim · Nays: None · Abstention: Geddis.
Public hearing — Alessandrini three-lot subdivision (Application #1-25, Tax Map #14.-1-28)
The public hearing on Frank Alessandrini’s application for two variances to permit a three-lot subdivision at 697 Master Street, Johnsonville — suspended at the April meeting to give the public more time — was reopened. The 8.74± acre, three-lot subdivision needs a 0.26± acre variance to meet the 3-acre density requirement, and proposed Lot 3 needs a frontage variance (128 feet of the 200 feet required). Mr. Alessandrini delivered the survey to neighboring residents, and the Clerk emailed copies to the neighbors who had expressed concerns at the April meeting.
The Chairman stated that all questions had been resolved and that, with the variances granted, all zoning requirements would be met. No one from the public attended and no further comments were received. Applying the five-factor area-variance test (Section XI.B.2.b), the Board found no undesirable neighborhood change, no alternative method, that the variances were not substantial (Lot 3 has 129 feet of frontage and the density is only about a quarter-acre short of a 9-acre lot), no adverse environmental impact, and a self-created difficulty — noting that the neighbors who had raised concerns in April were absent and believed to be satisfied.
Chairman McDonough moved to issue a negative declaration under SEQR and grant the application; Kristin Griswold seconded. Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Griswold, Saheim · Nays: None.
Public hearing — Grassmann detached garage (Application #2-25, Tax Map #20.13-2-10)
Steven Grassmann appeared seeking two area variances to build a 32′ × 40′ detached garage (about 22 feet tall) for personal use in a Hamlet District at 106 South Linden Street, Hemstreet Park, 7 feet from the rear and southerly boundary lines where the Zoning Law requires a setback of at least the garage’s height or 10 feet. The application, EAF, and fee were submitted; architectural plans are being drawn by an engineer, a driveway to South Linden Street will be established, and Mr. Grassmann may purchase the vacant adjacent lot to the south if it becomes available. He said his neighbors were “on board.”
Applying the five-factor test, the Board found the garage in keeping with the neighborhood, no alternative method, the variances not substantial, no adverse environmental impact, and a self-created difficulty. Ed McDonough moved to grant Application #2-25 for a garage no more than 25 feet high, 7 feet from the rear and southerly boundary lines; Lettie Saheim seconded. Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Griswold, Saheim · Nays: None.
Adjournment
The Chairman said the Building Inspector would be notified of both approvals, and noted no inquiries had been received. Rich Geddis moved to adjourn at 7:35 p.m. Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Griswold, Saheim · Nays: None.
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Hale, Clerk. Minutes dated June 8, 2025.
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