1970-09-16
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MINUTES of the public hearing of the Town of Queensbury
Zoning Board of Appeals held at the Town Office Building on
September 16, 1970, at 7:30 p.m.
There were present:
John Fitzgerald
James Keller
Charles Sicard
George Kurosaka
Allison Ellsworth
being the members of the board. On a motion by Charles
Sicard, seconded by George Kurosaka, the minutes of the
last meeting were approved.
For the first item of business, Mr. Fit~gerald, chairman,
read proof of publication for application for special per-
mit #21 of WILLIAM BARBER requestinQ to re-oPen a Qasoline
station for gasoline dispensing and taxi company office and
cab repair on the property situated at 83 Main Street. Town
of Queensbury.
Mr. Barber was not present at that time to represent
the application; however, Mrs. George L. Gilbert, owner
of the property, was present and answered the following
questions from the Board:
Mr. Fit~gerald: How long is the lease?
Mrs. Gilbert: We wi~ start out for a year and see
how he makes out on it.
Mr. Sicard: Is it operating now?
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Mrs. Gilbert: Yes, he started the first of the month.
Mr. Sicard: Is he selling gas now?
Mrs. Gilbert: Not yet, but he will later on.
Mr. Kurosaka stated that he was quite familiar with
the property.
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Appearing in opposition was Fred Rozell who lives
across from the station and said, "I have lived there about
70 years and I want to find out what kind of place it will
be. I don't mind the filling station if there are restric-
tions. I don't want junk or noise. I think there should
be some kind of restrictions."
Mr. Raymond Palmer who is buying the property next
door said, "It will create a hazard for school children
waiting for the bus. There are used cars in there already
along with the taxis, I have lived there(5)five years and
have seen two pretty good accidents on that corner. It
will create more of a problem with cars coming in and out
all day."
Mrs. Raymond Palmer, Allan Ro~ell Jr. and Betty
Eggleston voiced like comments on junk cars being left on
the property.
The Planning Board approved the request with no comment.
When Mr. Ro~ell asked to wait until the operator appeared,
Mr. Fit~gerald said, "We cannot hold off a public hearing
if the owner does not show up. We will have to rule on
the application as it appears. If he comes in and calls
it to our attention, we will take it up at the end of the
meeting."
The Board:
RESOLVED: application for special permit #21 by
William J. Barber to operate a filling station and
taxi repair at the corner of Main Street and Pine
Street, West Glens Falls in a C-l zone be ,.approved for
the operation of a taxi office and repair of taxis
with no repair, sale, of new or used cars on the property
in that the use is in general harmony with the area.
Action on the use as a filling station will be continued
until October 21, 1970, pending receipt of the 60%
petition required by the ordinance.
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Proof of publication was established for application
for a variance #176 of FRASIER MINIT CAR WASH requesting
to place a siqn with a 15' front set-back and a 31' side
vaæd set-back instead of the required 50' on the property
situated at the West side of Upper Glen Street. Town of
Queensbury.
Mr. Fit~gerald asked W. Norman Charles, attorney for
Walter Frasier:
I am quote familiar (Fitzgerald) with the Frasier
property. Is the purpose of this application to move a
sign previsouly located because of the relocation of the
highway?
Mr. Charles: Yes. It is for approval to relocate 15'
from the highway.
Mr. Kurosaka: Will it be less non-conforming?
Mr. Fitzgerald: The plot plan shows it 15' off the
property line which I don't think would be on the present
application.
Mr. Charles: The sign would be located as proposed
15' from the new Route 9 R.O.W. in the same position it
was prior to the change in the R.O.W. It would not alter the
traffic pattern in any way. If it were moved back farther,
it would not be seen from the traffic approaching in either
direction, particularly from the south. I submit pictures
looking at the property from the front. From the pictures,
you cannot see the property until you are right on top of it.
Mr. Kurosaks: Couldn't you see the sign over the top
of the building?
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Mr. Charles: The paint store and the motel would
be in the way.
There were no other appearances for or against the
application.
The Planning Board approved the application saying
it was necessary because of the widening of Route 9.
The Board:
RESOLVED: application for variance #176 by Frasier
Minit Car Wash Corp. to construct a 5' x 6' free
standing sign with a 15' setback on property located
at 692 Upper Glen Street, be aPproved as applied for
in that a hardship exists due to the widening of
Route 9.
Mr. Fitzgerald's reading of proof of publication for
application for variance #177 by RED FEZ RESTAURANT re-
questing to place two signs 20' from the property lines
instead of the required 50' on the property situated at
the east side of the Lake Georae Road, Route 9. Town of
Queensbury brought forth no appearances for or against.
Mr. Keller showed the board pictures as submitted with
the application.
The Planning Board disapproved the request on the
showing of insufficient grounds.
The Board:
RESOLVED: application for variance No. 177 by Red
Fez Restaurant to construct two 4' x 8' free standing
signs with 20 foot setback on property located on the
east side of Route 9 be disapproved in that sufficient
grounds for granting a variance have not been shown.
The next item of business was the reading of proof
of publication of application for variance #178 by RAYMOND
PATTEE requesting to install a private pool with a 4' rear
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setback instead of the required 20' and 6' from the dwelling
instead of the required 10' on the property situated at
Clark Street. Town of Queensbury.
There was no opposition from neighboring property owners.
Mr. William Hart of 7 Clark Street questioned the Board
regarding restrictions and covenants of deeds.
Mr. Fitzgerald told him that each application is a
unique problem of its own and the Board treats them as such.
The Planning Board approved the request as a practical
difficulty exists. There were no other appearances.
The Board:
RESOLVED: application for variance No. 178 by Raymond
L. Pattee to construct a swimming pool with a side
yard setback of 4 feet and 6 feet from the dwelling
on property located at 34 Clark Street be granted as
applied for in that a practical difficulty exists.
Mr. Fitzgerald then read proof of publication for
application for variance #179 by WILLIAM MINER to place a
mobile home court in an R-3 zone on the property situated
at the east side of B~y Road. Town of Queensbury. Mr.
Fit~gerald commented that this would be a large scale
development.
Appearing on behalf of the applicant was William
Bacas, attorney, 182 Ridge Street, Glens Falls.
It was noted that the Planning Board had disapproved
the request.
Mr. Bacas requested making a few comments for the
record:
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Property location: there is a lot 230 ft on the Bay
Road, 1039 deep, proposed use is a mobile home trailer
court. That area is zoned commercial. There are two
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restaurants, a drive-in snack stand, a cemetery across
the street and a gravel pit and garages. That is the
general character of the neighborhood. We have comp¡ied
with all the health requirements - drinking water, sanitation.
We have approval from the Department of Health.........Cer-
tatnly thelland is not condusive to a residential development.
The land slopes away from Bay Road. Future widening of Bay
and Farm-to-Market Roads would lessen the chanoe of a
residential development. It would be more commercial.
Trailers are a necessary development to-day. The lot would
hide rather than show them. Mr. Miner is in his 60's
and needs to develop his land to the best possible use.
The Planning Boa,rd rejected this application on 2
grounds - 1. one of the neighbors just didn't like trailers
and 2. this area was ear-marked for residential......The
general harmony of the land would not be hurt in any way.
I have submitted to this Board and also the Town Board
petitions signed by all land owners within 300 ft."
Objecting to the application were Stanley Urgardu.s,
a resident of Dream Lake who represented the Dream Lake
Improvement Association. There were 10 or 12 members
appearing with him. They were objecting on sanitary condi-
tions - the land slopes down to Bear Pond Brook.
Mr. Urgardue: We feel with the lineup of 30 trailers
there would be quite a sanitary condition where s~ptic
systems would leach into these grounds and make Dream
Lake an open cesspool. One of the residents has a spring
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very near to the brook from which he gets his water supply.
This land is not suited for a large development....We have
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been bringing this area up,...We had a d;e~ lake and
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we are bringing it back very slowly."
Others appearing against the application were Ralph
Bardon, William Stock, Ester U~ardus, Dorothy Randall, John
Armstrong, Father Mantica, Beatrice Ellsworth, Carol Bardon,
and Rev. Frederick Light.
Mr. Frank Bubbs made a plea for Mr. Miner assuring
the assemblage that Mr. Miner would not abuse the property.
The Planning Board disapproved on the grounds that
it would be detrimental to the future development of the
area.
The Board took no action and will wait for the Town
Attorney's recommendation at the October 21 meeting.
In the matter of old business the Board took the
following action:
RESOLVED: application for variance No. 170 by Leonard
Dufour to construct a 24' x 24' garage with a 20 foot
front setback because of the steep slope of the lot
be approved as applied for in that a practical diffi-
culty exists.
RESOLVED: ~plication for variance No. 171 by Thomas
Jacobs to erect a sign 2 feet from the R.O.W. on
property located on Bay Road be disapproved in that
insufficient grounds for granting a variance have
been shown.
RESOLVED: application for variance No. 172 by Eugene
J. Lucia to operate a bottle and glass shop in an
existing garage on Bay Road in an R-3 aone be dis-
approved in that insufficient grounds for granting
a variance have been shown. (Mr, A. E. Ellsworth
abstained)
RESOLVED: application for variance No. 173 by Raymond
Komp to construct a 18' x 28' garage with a 15 foot
setback on Assembly Point in an R-l aone be approved
as applied for in that a practical difficulty exists.
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RESOLVED: application for variance No. 174 by Sara
Spector to subdivide an existing parcel at the inter-
seotion of Brayton Avenue and Warren Street in an
M-2 zone into two conforming lots with the exception
of the side lot setback of an existing building of
30' be approved as applied for in that the variance
as applied for is the minimum necessary for reasonable
use of the land.
RESOLVED: application for variance No. 175 by Edward
Reith to allow a 1.96 foot side yarœ setback on Lake
Sunnyside on an existing .welling be approved as
applied for in that a practical difficul ty e~dstB"and
is the minimum necessary for the reasonable use of the land.
No action was taken an Special Permit #20 by Sun Oil
Company pending a meeting with the County Highway Department.
Incorporated into these minutes is research by Mr.
Kurosaka on Article 3 Definitions of the Zoning Ordinance
3.240.
There being no further business to come before the
meeting, upon motion duly made, seconded, and carried
unanimously, the meeting was adjourned.
Secretary
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TOWN OF QUEENSBURY - ZONING ORDINANCE
ARTICLE 3 DEFINITIONS
3.240 LOT OR ZoNE LoT- A PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND OCCUPIED BYA PRINCIPAL BUILOING
OR A GROUP OF SUCH BUILDINGS OR UTILIZED FOR A PRINCIPAL USE ACCESSORY OR
INCIDENTAL TO OPERATION. IT INCLUDES OPEN SPACES AS REQUiRED BY THis ORDINANCE
AND 'HAS FRONTAGE ON A PUBLIC STREET.
3.240 C LOT LINES
(1) LOT LINE _ FRONT- THE LINE SEPARATING THE LOT FROM THE BOUNDARY
OF THE HIGHWAY OR RIGHT-OF-WAY UPON WHICH THE LOT ABUTS.
(2) LOT LINE - REAR - THE LOT LINE OPPOSITE AND MOST DISTANT FROM
THE FRONT LOT LINE.
3.253 RIGHT-OF-WAY - A PARCEL OF LAND IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC FOR VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS.
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3.258 STREET- A PUBLIC WAY WHICH AFFORDS THE PRINCIPAL MEANS OF ACCESS TO
THE ABUTTING PROPERTY INCLUDING, AVENUE, PLACE, WAY, DRIVE, LANE,
BOULEVARD, HIGHWAY, ROAD OR ANY OTHER THOROUGHFARE, EXCEPT.AN ALLEY.
WEBSTERS, FUNK & WAGNALLS DICTIONARY DEFINITITIONS (1960 EDITIONS)
VEHICULAR - PERTAINING TO VEHICLE. (AD~)
VEHICLE - (NOUN)THE MEANS OF OR THAT IN OR ON WHICH ANYTHING IS
CARRIED, CONVEYED, OR TRAVELLED; ESPECIALLY A CONTRIVANCE
FITTED WITH WHEELS OR RUNNERS, A CONVEYANCE MOVING ON WAEELS
OR RUNNERS, SUCH AS A CAR OR CARRIAGE OR SLED.
P~6STRJAN -(AD~) - PERTAINING TO WALKING, MOVING ON FOOT, GOING OR
PERFORMING ON FOOT.
BoAT (N) VESSEL OF TRANSPORT ON WATER, A SMALL OPEN WATERCRAFT PROPELLED BY
OARS, PADDLES, SAILS OR ENGINES, (COLLQ) ANY WATER CRAFT
AtJ
ANY SIZE FROM A ROWBOAT TO~ OCEAN LINER.
VESSEL- (N) SHIP OR CRAFT DESIGNED TO FLOAT ON THE WATER.
RIGHT-OF-WAY - (N) THE STRIP OF LAND ACQUiRED BY EASEMENT, CONDEMNATION
OR PURCHASE OVER WHICH A RAIL ROAD LAyS ITS TRACKS, A PUBLIC
HIGHWAY OR STREET IS BUILT, ABOVE WHICH A POWER OT UTILITY
LINE MAY BE CONSTRUCTED.
THOROUGHFARE - (N) A PUBLIC, UNOBSTRUCTED STREET OPEN AT BOTH ENDS, ESPECIALLY
A MAIN HIGHWAY, ROAD OR STREET.
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No CORRELATION BETWEEN ROW & WATER ACCESS WITH IN THE DEFINITIONS AND
WORDING OF THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE. ALSO NO AMBIGUITIES IN THIS CASE,
AS ASSUMED BY OTHERS, OF COURSE J 1M NOT A LAWYER, BUT I BEL IEVE I ';tJNHRSTAND
ENGLISH AND THE WORDING APPEARS QUITE CLEAR.
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