1976-05-19
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MINUTES of the public hearing of the Zoning Board of Appeals
held May 19, 1976.
There were present:
Jack Fitzgerald (Chairman)
George Kurosaka
Ted Turner
Sjoerdje Richardson
Charles Sicard
being the members of the Board. The meeting was called to order by
Mr. Fitzgerald and on a motion by Jack Fitzgerald seconded by George
Kurosaka, the minutes of the April meeting were approved as read.
Old Business: None
New Business:
Variance #442 - Lasser Real Estate, Agnes Rozelle, President -
to operate a bus terminal on the property situated at the souteast
corner of Main and Second Streets.
Attorney Donald Matusik represented Mrs. Rozelle. Mr. Matusik
gave reasons for unnecessary hardship. He told the brief history of
the building stating it could not be used for a residential use. It
was formally a plumbing & heating business, U. S. Post Office and
a country store until present day. He said the location of the ter-
minal at the store would neither alter nor demean that general vicinity
in the Town of Queensbury. Matusik noted that litigation pending in
connection with the bus terminal was not germane to the application.
This terminal would be a ticket agent for Adirondack Trai1ways.
There would be no more than five standing buses at one time. The
neighborhood consists of 17 businesses. There may be three buses
standing over night. The buses would not back out onto the highway at
any time since there is a circular driveway.
Mrs. Rozelle has tried
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to sell this property for 12 years, but because it is in a residential
area, he has not been able to sell. The building was constructed l4
75'
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years before the zoning ordinance and was constructed at that time with
reasonable use of the land. There would be no modification of the sign.
It would remain intact at the northeast corner of the premises. The
only other modification would be the words "Adirondack Trailways Bus
Termina1." He further stated there was a petition of 435 signatures
in support of this application from people of the Main Street area.
Mr. Charles Dora, Regional Supervisor of Adirondack Trailways
was present and stated there would be 7 arrivals and 7 departures per
day. In the summer season, there would be lO arrivals and 10 depart-
ures per day. Ther woufd be no major work done on these buses at this
location. 6:00 A.M. would be the first arrival and the last depart-
ure at night would be ll:25 P.M. He further stated Adirondack Trail-
ways would not be leasing the storage in the rear. They would still
be leased by Frito-Lay.
Mr. Sicard asked Mr. Dora if there was a bus stop right in the City
of Glens Falls where passengers could get on or off. Mr. Dora stated
they try to stop right around where the old bus terminal was. Attorney
Matusik spoke about the media saying ther~ was rivalry between the
City of Glens Falls and the Town of Queensbury and said it wasn't so.
Re explained that safety at Rozelle's over that of South Street would
be better because there was no parking facilities on South Street where
this would not be so at Rozelle's. Buses cannot be idled more than
three minutes.
Those appearing in favor of this application were as follows:
Earl Jones, Main Street who lives l~l/2 blocks from Rozelle's" No ob-
jection.
Jack Crannell who lives within 500' of the building. No objection.
Carolyn Martindale owns property on Main Street. No objection.
Annabell Lampson, 61 Main Street. No objection.
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Carol Cleveland, Main Street. No objection.
James Troy who operates a taxi cab since the bus terminal was
started stated that he has ment every bus that has arrived. He said
there were phones in the interior of the building available for taxi
service. The terminal would be open for every arrival and departure.
Geneva Elmore, In favor.
Donald Latimore representing the Community Chapel said he was
not really in objection but was concerned with the bus schedule to
see if buses would arrive and depart during Sunday morning services.
Don Daniels, who owns the Northway Diner and Beauty Shop, was
in favor.
Thelma Didio, l6 Main Street, in favor.
The following were in objection to this variance:
Willard Whittemore, 5l Main Street who lives three houses from
Rozelle's said the fumes from the buses were terrible.
Al Monroe who lives across the street - In objection.
Attorney Mark Leibowitz, represented nine residents in the immed-
iate area of the terminal, explained why these residents were opposed
to the terminal. Arguments included safety hazards, effect on the re-
sidential nature of the neighborhood, noise and odor problems.
Paul Wickley, 84 Main Street objected because there were no side-
walks for people to walk and some people walk to the Copper Kettle to
eat.
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Attorney Phil MacIntyre also representing some of the neighbors
questioned the fact that Mrs. Rozelle really had a hardship and wanted
to see the zoning variance law enforced.
Ken O'Connor of River Street - In objection.
Roy Bishop, 2 River Street was in objection to bringing the "South
Stree Environment" into West GLens Falls.
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Mrs. Rozelle was present and briefly said that there were not more
cars parked there now than when she ran the Post Office and noone com-
plained then.
This variance was taken into executive session and returned Oat
IO:l6 with the following:
Variance #442 - Agnes Rozelle, Lasser Real Estate, 64 Main Street.
Charles Sicard made a motion that Variance #442 be approved subject to
the following:
1) The approval be for a 24 month period and carries a list of
stipulations
2) That a parking plan for the terminal on Main Street in West
Glens Falls be presented to the Queensbury Planning Board.
3) That a landscape plan be submitted to the Queensbury Beauti-
fication Committee.
4) That pay phone and taxi facilities be provided.
5) That the Country Store building be opened for all arrivals and
departures.
This motion was seconded by Ted Turner. Unanimous.
Variance #430 - James K. Meisner (John Rothermel) R-l Zone
Antiqua Drive, Plum Point, Lake George.
This variance to be held over for another month.
Variance #439 - Lonnie Pollard, Montray and Sweet Roads, R-4
Zone.
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Attorney Peter Firth was present to represent Mr. Pollard. He
explained this variance was to subdivide a preexisting non-conforming
lot on the property situated at Sweet Road.
There were no appearances for or against.
Jack Fitzgerald made a motion, seconded by Charles Sicard that
Variance #439, Lonnie Pollard be approved. Unanimous.
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Variance #441 - Stanley Sutton, Route 9, Lake George Road,
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C-3 Zone - to relocate a preexisting non-conforming sign in a C-3
Zone on the property situated at Route 9, Lake George Road.
Stanley Sutton was present a discussion followed between the
Board members discussing the possibility of putting the sign back
where it was. The setback would be IB'. Both County and Town Plann-
ing Boards approved without comment.
Charles Sicard made a motion that Variance #44l, Stanley Sutton
be approved as it meets with the approval of both planning boards.
This motion was seconded by Ted Turner. Unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:52 P.M.
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Secretary
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