1994-07-27
~
O::'GINAL
QUEENSBURY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
SECOND REGULAR MEETING
JULY 27TH. 1994
INDEX
Notice of Appeal No. 1-94 Woodmen of the World 1 .
Use Variance No. 106-1993 John C. & Christine Bergeron 5.
Notice of Appeal No. 3-94 Troy Savings Bank 7.
THESE ARE NOT OFFICIAllY ADOPTED MINUTES AND ARE SUBJECT TO BOARD
AND STAFF REVISIONS. REVISIONS Will APPEAR ON THE FOllOWING
MONTHS MINUTES (IF ANY) AND Will STATE SUCH APPROVAL OF SAID
MINUTES.
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QUEENSBURY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
SECOND REGULAR MEETING
,JULY 27TH. 1994
7:3IJ P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
THEODORE TURNER, CHAIRMAN
CHRIS THOMAS, SECRETARY
FRED CARVIN
ROBERT KARPELES
DAVID MENTER
MEMBERS ABSENT
ANTHONY MARESCO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-JAMES MARTIN
PLANNER-SUSAN CIPPERLY
STENOGRAPHER-MARIA GAGLIARDI
OLD BUSINESS:
NOTICE OF APPEAL NO. 1-94 LC-42A WOODMEN OF THE WORLD OWNER:
FLORENCE MURPHY WEST SIDE OF ROUTE 9L. RIDGE ROAD APPLICANT
SEEKS AN APPEAL FROM THE DECISION BY THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
THAT. BASED ON HIS INTERPRETATION OF SECTION 13D(3)(b)[5] AND
RELATED DEFINITIONS IN SECTION 179-7. A USE VARIANCE WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO UNDERTAKE A PROPOSED USE ON LAND CURRENTLY OWNED BY
FLORENCE MURPHY. ACCORDINGLY, AN INTERPRETATION IS REQUESTED
FROM THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. TAX MAP NO. 22-1-4.1 LOT
SIZE: 14.67 ACRES SECTION: 13D(3)(b)[5]
MICHAEL MULLER, REPRESENTING APPLICANT, PRESENT
MR. TURNER-The only thing that's before the Board tonight,
there's no more publ ic hearing on it. The publ ic hearing is
closed. There'll be no further comment taken from the publ ic,
and the floor is open for discussion on the merits of the case.
MR. MULLER-Mr. Chairman, at the last meeting, Mr. Carvin was
reading about the, the record should reflect that Mr. Carvin was
reading from some information that he had received from, I
believe it was the Department of Insurance, as to the statistics.
the financial health of the organization, and I had submitted to
the Board, at the very first time I made the presentation, no one
could seem to find those particulars, and I want this record to
be complete. So I am submitting, this evening, the financial
statement of the Woodmen of the World, so that there can be no
issue about it, but I want you to, again, I would just insist,
that I'm in a quandary. I just don't understand why some of the
Board members think that what's going to be operated there is a
business, or that this business could not possibly operate a
Group Camp there and do their fraternal activities there. So
part of the submissions are that I'm going to submit, just to
make my appl ication complete, in addition to their Annual Report,
a sample magazine of what the fraternal organization does.
There's also brochures explaining that they do sel I insurance,
but they also have a fraternal organization, a sample of one of
the booklets that was mentioned as being distributed to Scouts
and other organizations that are interested in citizenship, and
I've got to tell you that I just want to show you, you're welcome
to look at it, but I can't give it to you, because I have to
return it, but it is the Woodmen Ranger's Handbook. It is one of
the organizations that wi II meet in that faci I ity. It is, the
only thing that I can make it akin to is the Boy Scout Troop, and
it is cal led the Woodmen Rangers.
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RAY GILLIS
MR. GILLIS-We're 91 years old. We're older than the Boy Scouts.
MR. MULLER-And it's basically their handbook. and that's the
activities you're going to have in there. They're not sel ling
insurance from that location. and want you to take a look at
that before you make your decision.
PAUL DUSEK. TOWN ATTORNEY
MR. DUSEK-Mike. with the exception of the book. you're saying al I
the other documents may be retained by the Town as part of the
record?
MR. MULLER-Yes. and I do. I want them to be part of the record.
and they can retain the handbook.
MR. DUSEK-So everything. then. they can keep as part of the
record?
MR. TURNER-Everything?
MR. MULLER-Everything. Mr. Gi II is just told me you can keep the
handbook. Mr. Gi II is also informed me. I brought Mr. Ray Gi II is
here. and he informed me that they have the not for profit
number. in terms of the Internal Revenue Service. They are
recognized as a not for profit organization. The only thing that
I'm also concerned about is. we had always promised that the
neighbors would get notice of this. Did they get notice of this.
because nobody's here.
MR. DUSEK-I don't know.
MS. CIPPERLY-I don't. either.
MR. DUSEK-Were they noticed of the last meeting?
MR. MULLER-Wel I. they were. but we left saying that the decision
would be in 6Ø days. and then I got notice that it could be
sooner. and I took it. and I didn't wanted to do anything that
appeared to be underhanded. I wanted them to be here.
MR. DUSEK-Right.
checked.
I don't know.
The Planning Office would have
MR. TURNER-I think we said that we would notify them.
MR. MULLER-I just want to make sure that they were.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
think we did.
MR. MULLER-I didn't undertake to do that. and the last time I
did. and I said I would let them know.
MS. CIPPERLY-You did say that in the resolution.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
It's in the resolution. I bel ieve.
MR. MULLER-And most of the people that constitute this Chapter
are not here tonight because they're playing a benefit softbal I
game. the funds of which wi II be for scholarships. and that's why
I've been trying to impress upon this Board. in terms of their
activities. They are not a group that meets on a monthly basis
to sell insurance.
MS. CIPPERLY-It doesn't look I ike that was done. Ted.
MR. TURNER-it wasn't done? How many gentlemen do you have here
tonight. that are associated with the organization?
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MR. MULLER-Three people.
MR. TURNER-How did thev get notified?
MR. MULLER-I ,told them.
,MR. TURNER-You didn't tel I anybody else?
MR. MULLER-No.
It's not my job.
MR. TURNER-I know. but.
mean. if they notified you.
MR. MULLER-I buy hay from Matt Coffin.
I thought I was going to do that.
I could have told him. if
MR. CARVIN-It would appear that the information contained in this
Annual Report does coincide fairly cl.osely with the information
that was acquired from the State of New York.
MR. MULLER-I would hope that it's right on point.
MR. CARVIN-Yes. It sti I I would indicate that there's total
assets of about 3.3 bi I I ion. and according to this report. other
fraternal benefits. civic and community. welfare and fraternal
expenses abo~t 12 mi I I ion. and I think I had given you credit for
about 42 million. So 30 million here. 30million there. It's
¡'ike the government.
MR. MULLER-But of that 12 million. I'm trying to impress upon
this Board. t.hat is that at the location proposed. that's what
they wish to do. and certainly I'm not trying to represent that
the whole 12 mi II ion comes out of that location. but what comes
out of that location is that they have the Woodmen Rangers. They
have their monthly meetings. They do. basically. their
fundraising. and they do their fraternal activities.
MR. CARVIN-Okay. It's never been a bone
that they don't have a fraternal side.
of ~ problems with this particular
sta.tement. I don't know if anybody
s t a 1: em en t. t hat I' ,d I i k e tor e a din to
So I don't know hoW you're going to do
of content i on on .~ part
So that's never been one
organization. I have a
else has got a prepared
the record at some point.
this.
MR.. TURNER-Well. first of all. I think we ought to decide whether
we're even going to entertain it tonight. since nobody's been
notified.
MR. KARPELES- don't see how you can.
MR. THOMAS-How does that effect our 60 days?
MR. TURNER-We're st i I I on target.
MR. THOMAS-We've st i I I got another 30 to go?
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MR. CARV I N-We I I. correct me if I'm wrong.
notify. in the event of a public hearing.
hearing has bee.1:'I technically closed.
but do
because
we have to
the public
MR. DUSEK-Wel.l. I think you're. the problem is is that under the
law. you wouldn't have had to notify the members of the public or
anybody in partic~lar of tonight's meeting. except the ordinary
press notices which go out to make sure you're,complying with the
Open Meetings Law. So you don't have to write a particular
person. normally. However. since you've put it in your
resolution. that concerns me. because you've. in essence. made a
rule for yourself. I guess. That's what I'm being told anyway.
it was in your last resolution.
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MR. TURNER-Right.
MR. DUSEK-If that's the case. you essentially made a rule that
you're not fol lowing. and I think you could be open to criticism
by the people who are not here. if they wanted to be here. M:i.
thought would be that it would be probably the better thing to
do. if you wanted. to ca I I even a spec i a I meet i ng. as opposed to
marching ahead without these people having had the opportunity to
be here and watch you do your work.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MS. CIPPERLY-Did you actually do a resolution. or was that?
MR. TURNER-I think we just tabled it for a determination.
MS. CIPPERLY-I think it was just tabled. I'm not s~re that that
part of it was actually in the resolution.
MR. TURNER-It was just tabled. Yes. We stand adjourned until.
they wi II be notified when the decision is made. so they can be
present to hear the reading of it. So. being as it may. I would
move to table the appl ication.
MOTION TO TABLE NOTICE OF APPEAL NO. 1-94 WOODMEN
Introduced by Theodore Turner who moved for
seconded by Fred Carvin:
OF THE WORLD.
its adoption.
We' I I notify the publ ic when the hearing is so that they can be
here.
Duly adopted this 27th day of July. 1994. by the following vote:
MR. CARVIN-Unti I what time?
MR. TURNER-Well. I think we'll have to determine when we can get
the hall. and we'll notify them at the time. and if we have to
schedule a special meeting. we'll schedule it. and they'll be
notified as to when it is. so that they can be here. So I think.
basically. Mike. it hinges on getting this room. and schedul ing
at a time. maybe a special meeting. if that's what it's going to
take. and we'll notify you when that wi II be coming about. and
all the parties will be notified.
MR. MULLER-Ted. could we work toward the possibi I ity of either
having this meeting. try for the first half of August. in other
words. avoid the last half of August. that's what I want to do.
MR. TURNER-Yes. Right.
MS. CIPPERLY-Yes. loan see what the schedule is for this. We
can try for the first or second Wednesday of August.
MR. MULLER-Yes. that would be fine.
MS. CIPPERLY-We can't do it for next week. because that's
probably not enough time for notification. but the second week of
August might work.
MR. DUSEK-Next week is August 3rd.
10th.
The week after is August
MR. MULLER-I
that some of
problems after
of town on the
don't have a problem with August 1Øth. Ted. I know
the members of the Chapter are going to have
the 2Øth of August. and I know I'm going to be out
14th.
MR. D USE K - We I I. the t h i r d We d n e s day 0 f the m 0 nth i s Au gust 1 7 t h .
That's not good?
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MR. MULLER-I'm out of town.
M~. TURNER-Whe~e do we stand. as far as our agenda goes for next
month? How many appl ications do we have in?
MS. CIPPERLY-Not so bad.
MR.. TURNER-Not bad.
have in front of us.
Okay. Well. let us look and see what we
and then we' I I get back to you on it.
MR. MULLER-Thank you.
MR. DUSEK-Maybe wh i I e we have everybody here. though. Mr.
Chairman. if I may suggest that if. for some reason. there's a
problem. and the meeting cannot be scheduled unti lone of their
regular meetings. would you rather have it postponed into the
nex.t month? Would you agree to that. I guess. because they're
going to be beyond,their 6Ø days.
MR. MULLER-Okay. I'm sticking my neck out a I ittle bit. because.
actua,lly. my advocacy as my cl ient. is Mrs. Murphy. who of course
is the owner. is very anx i ous for a dec i s i on. and I hate to do
that to her. the answer would be. yes. I know that I wi II not be,
able to be here between. say. August 14th and the end of August.
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MR. DUSEK-So would your organization be avai lable during the
regular Board meetings of September?
MR. MULLER-Yes.
MR. DUSEK-So that's not a problem?
MR. MULLER-That's not a problem.
MR. DUSEK-Okay. The only reason I wanted that on the record. Mr.
Chairman. is because you're over your tIme threshold. You have
the appl icant's attorney agreeing that he's not going to hold
that against you.
MR. MULLER-I'm !lQ1. going to hold it agains1; you.
MR: TURNER-Thank yqu.
AYES: Mr. Menter. Mr. Karpeles. Mr. Carvin. Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Turner
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Mr. Maresco
MOTION IN RESPECT TO NOTICE OF APPEAL NO. 3-94
BANK. I ntroduced by Theodore Turner who moved for
seconded by David Menter:
TROY SAVINGS
its adoption.
That as a matter of record. that the Town has instituted a
position in respect to the Ordinance by classifying bank and
banking faci I ities as office bui Idings. and I would agree with
Mr. Lapper and the appl icant in respect to those comments. This
particular banking faci I ity would be an allowable as a permitted
~se under Office Bui Iding Type I I. That this appl ies only to
t his app I i cant.
Duly adopteQ this 27th daY of July. 1994. by the fol lowing vote:
AYES: Mr. Menter. Mr. Karpeles. Mr. Carvin. Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Turner
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Mr. Maresco
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MR. TURNER-The next order of business is Use Variance No. 106-
1993 JOHN C. AND CHRISTINE BERGERON. Would you please read the
letter from the attorney in respect to that appl ication. Mr.
Secretary?
MR. THOMAS-A letter from Kenneally and Tarantino. to the Town of
Queensbury. Attention: Theodore Turner. Chairman. Regarding the
application of John C. and Christine Bergeron. "Dear Mr. Turner:
Our office appreciates the Extensions granted to the Appl icant in
the above matter through July 27. 1994. At this time. the
Bergerons are not in a position to complete their Appl ication and
wi II therefore withdraw same at this point in time. In the event
that the Bergerons have incurred any advertising expenses. please
advise this offioe immediately. The Bergerons wi I I continue to
actively market the premises as a Commercial Premise subject to
the granting of a Use Variance. The Bergerons anticipate
resubmitting their Appl ication for the Use Variance with a
Commercial Contract of Sale conditioned upon the granting of said
Use Variance. Obviously. if they are able to market the property
as a Residential Use. that wi II be accompl ished as well and no
further Appl ication wi I I be fi led with the Zoning Board of
Appeals. The Bergerons are ooncerned that certain statements
have been made by certain Town Officials concerning their
Application. It is our specific understanding that the Bergerons
are free to market the premises as Commercial Premises subject to
the granting of a Use Variance and furthermore. that the Zoning
Board of Appeals has made no determination as to the merits of
their Use Varlanoe Appl ioation. Please consider this
correspondence as our formal request to withdraw the pending Use
Variance Appl ication on behalf of John C. and Christine Bergeron.
Very truly yours. KENNEALLY & TARANTINO Dennis J. Tarantino"
And the letter is dated JulY 27th. 1994.
MR. TURNER-Okay. They have a
violation from the '76 site plan.
them that. right?
letter in respect to their
Is that rfg~t? You have sent
MS. CIPPERLY-Yes. That was sent on June 1st.
MR. TURNER-Okay. When we asked ~hem to advert.se it. we asked
~hem to advertise it as residential as well 'as commercial.
They're only marketing It as commerciat~ thén. Is thät the drift
of the letter1 Isn't there a CommerciII sig~ up the~e?
MS. CIPPERLY-Can I defer to the Town Attorney.
MR. DUSEK-I don't know what the letter -says or what th~sign is.
MS. CIPPERLY-The letter that they refer to in there was written
by Jim Martin just informing the realtor that it was not
technically a Commercial property. He didn't say stop doing
this. or.
MR. TURNER-Yes. but. see. Paul. when this thing was put off. we
told them to market it both ways. and they're only marketing it
commercial. and i~'s reverted baok to the zone it's in. So it's
Waterfront Residential.
MR. DUSEK-Well. you know. my first reaotion would be that if. in
fact. they se II to somebody. and if that somebody or if thev
decide that they want to use it. they're going to have to oomply
with whatever our Ordinances are. and criteria. and a buyer would
have to take notice of what our Ordinances are. So. as a result.
I t h ink t h at . and c e r t a i n I y the s e I I e r k now s w h at t hey are . So
he's got an obi igation to convey that to the buyer. I don't
think we have a problem brewing or anything. because I think it's
up to them to decide. you know. we can't tel I them. for instance.
that you have to do X. Y. Z. in terms of how you sell your
property. AI I we care about is that the Ordinance is compl led
with. So. whoever it is. onoe they start something on the
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prope~ty~ whatever that may be. whether it's a house. a business.
or whatever. that use has to be in complianc.e with what our rules
are. and if it's not. then the enforcing part of the Town wi II
take action to have that halted. If it ~ then there won't be a
problem. So. I don't think there's anything to be concerned
about. in terms of the advertisement. because that's their
responsibi I ity.
MR. TURNER-Wel I. of course. they're going to have to come in here
and say. yes. we can't market it as residential.
MR. DUSEK-Granted. from the point of view of trying to
out. in terms of saying. hey guys. if you're coming in
Variance. this is the type of information you ought to
agree wit h you 1 øø percent. Ted. but here aga in. if
want to do it.
help
for
show
they
them
a Use
us. I
don't
MR. MENTER-Well. I think they did make somethina of an effort. I
did see a residential sale piece in one of the flyers. I know
th~y did some I imited marketing of it.
MR. TURNER-Mark was a I ways hand ling t.h i s7 Mark Levack was a I ways
hand I i ngt.h i s7
MS. CIPPERLY-Levack/Burke is the new.
realtor before.
It was under a different
MR. TURNER-Well, I think he ought to be aware that he has to also
try to market it as residential. Maybe he's not aware of that.
MR. DUSEK-I think I would leave that up to the appl icant. though.
Ted. Because if they come back to your Board and they say.
MR. TURNER-And they hav~ no proof. then they can't sustain their
argument. Okay. So lets go to the next item of business.
NEW BUSINESS:
NOTICE OF APPEAL NO. 3-94 TROY SAVINGS BANK OWNER: COOL
INSURING AGENCY QUAKER ROAD AND COUNTRY CLUB ROAD APPEAL BY
TROY SAV(~GS BANK FROM A DECISION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
STATING THAT SECTION 179-98. HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL ZONE OF THE
ZONING ORDINANCE IN THE MATTER OF TROY &AVINGS BANK SHALL REQUIRE
A USE VARIANCE IN ORDER TO LOCATE A BANKING FACiliTY IN A HIGHWAY
COMMERCIAL ZONE. B~NKING FACiliTIES ARE CURRENTLY .AlLOWED IN
COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL ZONES. AS A SITE PLAN REVIEW USE.
PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT QUAKER ROAD AND COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
DESIGNATED ON THE TAX ASSESSMENT MAP AS SECTION 62-1-1.1.
JON LAPPER. REPRESENTING APPLICANT. PRESENT
STAFF INPUT
Notes fromSt.ff. Appeal #3-94. Troy Savings Bank. Meeting Date:
July 2.7. 1994 "APPLICANT: Troy Savings Bank PRO.JECT LOCATION:
Quaker Road and Country Club Road INTERPRETATION: A review of
former Zoning Ordinance and previous bank sitings showed the
fol lowing: 1. Some of the banks in the Quaker Road area were
subject to the 1967 Zoning Ordinance. which specifically allowed
banks as a use in all the Commerci.al zones. This includes State
Bank of Albany (now Fleet). Chase Bank. and First National Bank
of . G I ens Fa I Is. 2. Th~ 1982 Zon i ng Ord i nance did not list bank s
in any zone. No new banks were constructed in the Quaker Road
area in this time period. 3. Other banks were subject to the
1988 Zon i ng Ord i nance. wh i ch does not spec i fica I I Y list Bank
Faci I ities in Highway Commercial or Plaza Commercial zones. but
doe s lis tit a s a use i n Res ide n t i a I C, om mer cia I . D u r i n g
discussion of this matter with John Goralski. a Planner for the
Town at that time. It was indicated that the Zoning Administrator
during that period allowed banks to be considered office
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buildings. which are listed. Apparently. this is how Key Bank
and Trustco came to be located in a Highway Commercial zone
without a Use Variance. despite the fact that "banking faci I ity"
was not a I isted use. Jim Martin. the current Zoning
Administrator. made the determination that. because "banking
facility" was included in the Commercial Residential Zone.
Section 179-24 of the code. the intent was to omit it from the
Highway Commercial and Plaza Commercial zones. whèrè it is not
I isted. Under the circumstances. à Use Variance would be
required to site a bank on the parcel in question. The Zoning
Administrator is not stating that a bank would be an
inappropriate use in a Highway Commercial or Plaza Commercial
zone. only that the current Zoning Ordinance does not I ist banks
as a permitted use. In part. the difference between a banking
facility and an office building would be th'ekind of traffic
generated. and the fact that most modern banks have drive-up
facilities. while offices do not."
MR. LAPPER-Good evening. With me tonight is Gary Evaltoff. Vice
President and Director of Planning for the Bank. and he could
answer any specific questions about the Bank's intended use for
the property. I guess this comes down to two issues. as far as I
see it. One is fundamental fairness. to be treated the same as
all the other banks have. historically. been treated. and the
other is the definition of Office Bui Iding under the Town Zoning
Ordinance. which I bel ieve is broad enough to encompass a bank.
I bel ieve that's why a bank has always been permitted as an
Office Building. I'd call your attention to the definition.
Office Building is a bui Iding comprised of more than 50 percent
of the gross floor area used for office space. Now. the bui Iding
in question is going to continue to be rented. in part. actually
more than half. at this point. to Cool. and the remaining
offices. or most of the remaining square footage. is going to be
used. also. as office space by the Bank. because that's going to
be primarily loan (lost word). So it would be a standard office
use. which doesn't have to be a retai I bank ing faci I ity. At the
same time. there wi I I be some retai I banking functions. They do
plan on instal I ing just a drive up ATM. I wouldn't want to
restrict this decision. though. just to say that this is
different. that this is more of office building than the other
banks in the area. because I don't think that's fair. If Trustco
went in on Bay Road and that's also an office bui Iding. and the
Key Bank across the street and Trustco across the street. one of
which is in a Plaza Commercial zone. I think it's clear that the
Town has taken the position. since the '88 Ordinance. our
Ordinance was in place. that a bank is an office bui Iding. If
you look at a II of the banks in Town. it's interest i ng to see
that al I except one are located in either the Highway Commercial
zone or the Plaza Commercial zone and primari Iy right there on
Quaker Road. or Albany Savings and Glens Falls National are on
Upper Glen. but that's the Plaza Commercial. So that if you look
at the commercial sector of Town. that's where al I the banks are.
and as a matter of fairness. also. this bank would want to be
where the other banks are. in terms of competition. but also the
same interpretation should apply. Under Section 179-12. there's
a provision in the general interpretation and appl ication of
regulations section. the Schedule of Regulations. it says the
identification of particular uses al lowed as permitted uses.
accessory uses. or site plan review uses. is for illustrative
purposes and that (lost word) 1991. and I think that position was
intended to. and does give. the Town Zoning Administrator and the
Zon I ng Board I eeway to say. even I f Off ice Bu I I ding wasn't
included. that this is the type of use that is a compatible use
in the zone. We don't have to stick to just the letter of the
words that are listed. but I a I so be I i eve that a bank il an
Office Building. (lost word) office building use. but I think
that that section gives you some further statutory authorization.
I want to come to Town Law 262. wh i ch says t hat a I I zon i ng
regulations shall be uniform for each class or kind of buildings
throughout the district. I can argue that we should be treated
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the same as t~e other bui Idings in the district. and also to
general construction of zoning laws and case law. that the Zoning
Ordinance is strictly construed in favor of the property owner.
as it has been in the past. Finally. I just want to point out.
because the deter~ination tonight wi I I have an effect on a use
that is already there. that if there is a determination that a
bank is no~ permitted in a Highway Commercial zone. under the
Ordinance. I bel iev~ that ~.t's incumbent upon the Town to revoke
the CO's of the three banks 1hat are in the district. That would
be only fair. to treat al I of the banks the same. but I don't
think it should have to come to that. I bel ieve that we're
correct. that a bank is an office bui Iding and should be
considered an offic~ bui Iding.
M~. TURN,ER-Banks weren't intentionally left out. You can see the
time frame wh~n State Bank of Albany. Chase Bank. First National
Bank. went in there. in the '67. there was no activity. from that
po i nt. even unt i I Key Bank and Trustco Bank. went in on Quaker
Road. Everything was in I imbo. and it's true. I know the Zoning
Administrator. Pat Crayford. did al,low them to go in there as an
office building. ,nd that is true. but the reason they were left
out. because there was no activity and no point in putting them
in there. because there was none headed in that direction. okay.
So I think the Committee. at the time. felt that the best way to
deal with it is to deal with it as it came along. wait and see
,what happened. So she dec i ded that the bank was an Off ice
Bui Iding and. therefore. let them in there. and I don't have a
problem with the.ru being in Highway Commercial. I think they do
belong in Highway Commercial. and I. think you're right. that we
did set a precedent by letting them in there as Office Bui Iding.
MR. .MENTER-I agree with you. I think that Residential Commercial
zones being the only zones where Banks are a permissible use is
not a good use in zoning. and it's probably not the intended use
of the zone.
MR. TURNER-We I I. You know~ and the other side of the coin is that
banking has changed since that period of time. Now we've got
drive-ins. We've got ATM machines. and most of it's done outside
of the structure. not internally. So. you knoW. it's a different
activity. It's still banking. but it's a different way of doing
it.
MR. LAPPER-But th,at could be regulated by Site Plan Review.
MR. TURNER-Absolutely. Anyone else?
MR. THQMAS-No. I just agree with what Ted ,nd Dave said. that I
think a bank should be permJtted in that zone. and there's a bank
right aCross the street. banks .in the area. It's zoned Highway
Commercial right down through there. except for PI.aza Commercial.
and I think a bank belongs i.n Highway Commercial.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MR. THOMAS-So I have no problems with a bank going in the Cool
Insurin~ bui Iding there.
MR. TURNER-You can go down the street and
banks. and I remember going in them. and
ine waiting t9 get up to the teller. Now
and walk right up there. There's hardly
Everybody goes to the drive-in bank.
go in any of the big
you'd be standing in
you can walk right in
anybody in the bank.
MR. THOMAS-Another thing. too. is Cool Insuring. I don't see why
they couJdl)'t put a drive-in window like McPhi II ips. What's the
.difference between that and a bank. drive-in teller.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
hearing.
So. with that said.
I'll open the public
- 9 -
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PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
NO COMMENT
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
MR. TURNER-A motion's in order. if there's no further discussion.
MOTION IN RESPECT TO NOTICE OF APPEAL NO. 3-94 TROY SAVINGS
BANK. Introduced by Theodore Turner who moved for its adoption.
seconded by David Menter:
That as a matter of record. that the Town has instituted a
position in respect to the Ordinance by classifying bank and
banking facilities as offioe buildings. and I would agree with
Mr. Lapper and the appl ioant in respeot to those oomments. This
partloular banking faci I ity would be an allowable as a permitted
use under Offioe BUilding Type II. That this applies only to
this appl ioant.
Duly adopted this 27th day of July. 1994. by the fol lowing vote:
MR. DUSEK-Mr. Chairman. just as a point of olarification. you're
saying. essentially. you're seeing a bank as an office bui Iding.
Is that the idea?
MR. TURNER-The banking facility as desoribed. yes. as an offioe
bui Iding.
MR. DUSEK-This partioular one?
MR. TURNER-Right. this particular one. You're going to have an
ATM maohine. How muoh of the bui Iding are you going to use?
MR. LAPPER-I guess. at present. probably pretty olose to half.
but that oould change over time.
MR. TURNER-So you have an option to?
MR. LAPPER-Right now we've got the lease with the insurance
company. and that could be extended for a period of time. or
forever. but at the same time. we're not locked into that. and we
think the bank (lost word) space to expand at some point in the
future.
MR. DUSEK-So you're not saying ~ bank.
MR. TURNER-No.
MR. DUSEK-You're just saying this particular bank.
MR. TURNER-This partioular bank.
MR. DUSEK-Okay. I just wanted to make sure that was. for al I the
Board. as wel I as my own benefit. to understand that. then.
MR. LAPPER-Are you restricting us to a oertain peroentage?
MR. TURNER-No. This partioular location. This particular bank.
Do you think that needs any further clarifioation?
MR. DUSEK-I think the only other thing I would mention is that I
understand the Board's oonoern about. you mentioned a preoedent.
or the faot that the Zoning Administrator has made certain
determinations. That's not binding on you. in terms of what
they've done.
MR. TURNER-No. I know.
MR. DUSEK-I think what you have to do fs look at the appl ioation
- 1Ø -
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and say, is it an office building? Do we feel comfortable with
that? I don't think the Board should feel it has to make a
decision based upon what the Zoning Administrator, in the past,
mayor may not have done.
MR. CARVIN- don't think that's the case.
MR. DUSEK-Okay.
MR. CARVIN- think that we agreé wit~ the Zo~¡ng Administrator's
interpretation. At least that's!'!!'y' feeling.
MR. DUSEK-Right,.!!..Q1! you do. Right. Okay. I just wanted to
make that clear in thé record, because I think it's important to
consider that you do, I think you do have the authority to decide
something fresh yourself. I don't think you're, just because a
Town Official makes a decision, I don't think you're 'locked into
that.
MR. TURNER-No.
MR. DUSEK-But what you're saying is you agree that it
office bui Iding, especially this type of one that's
described to you.
is an
been
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MR. DUSEK-I think that if the Board just indicates it's agreement
with the discussion we just had, that' I I certainly clear any
issues with regard to the motion, if that's what you're concerned
about.
MR. TURNER-Yes. Let me further reference that thisappl jes only
to this appl ¡cant. I think thatCo~ers it.
AYES: Mr. Menter, Mr. Karpeles, Mr. Carvin, Mr. Thomas,
Mr. Turner
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: Mr. Maresco
MR. TURNER-We're not done yet. We're going to discuss that deal
about 179-76B, General Exceptions, Article 10. We're gOing to
discuss it. I want to discuss Article 10, General Exceptions,
179-76B. The other night we had two applications on setbacks for
sheds, Accessory Structures.
MR. DUSEK-Yes. Actually, Sue Cipperly wrote ~ a memo, July
21st, to Ted Turner, I respond, it says, from a review of your
memo, it's my underst~nding that the question is whether the
exemption for lot area, size, dimensions and setbacks, set forth
in 179-76, appl ies to only the principal structure, or whether it
also appl ies to Accessory Bui Idings. Upon review of that
Section, it is ~ opinion that if the exemption is avai lable from
setback requirements under this Section, the same would apply to
all bui Idings and accessory bui Idings al ike. The basis for this
op inion is that th is Sect i on of the Code refers genera I I y to
setbacks. It does not distinguish between principal bui Idings
and accessory buildings. Further, I note that thè setback is
defined in the Zoning Ordinance às being the establ ished line
beyond which no part of a bui Iding may extend. I note that the
def in it i on of Bu i Id i ng i nc I udes she Iter, hous i ng, or enc losure of
persons, animals, or chattels. Therefore, it would appear that
an accessory use, such as the shed, would also be a bui Iding.
Therefore, I think that the definitions also support the
proposition that the exemption from setback was meant to apply to
principal bui Idings, as well as accessory bui Idings. In addition
to the forgo i ng, I note the concern ra i sèd about the fa i rriess for
properties in subdivisions as opposed to outside of subdivisions.
- 11 -
It is my reco I I ect i on that some of the cons i derat ions that gave
rise to the exemptions within subdivisions and not outside of
subdivisions was that al lowing setbacks in effect at the time the
subdivision was approved would al low continuation of bui Id out of
the subdivision as originally planned. I bel ieve it was felt
that this would not be offensive. since the subdivision would
already be bui It in accordance with the way everybody might
suspect. In areas outside the subdivision. however. it was
thought that due regulations should apply. unless there was good
reason for them not to. which. of course. could be addressed by
Zoning Board actiön. Another consider which I bel ieve ~ have
been discussed. and I wasn't absolutely sure. but I said. is that
setbacks consistent with the Ordinance at the time the
subdivision was approved would be less I ikely to cause a problem
as the s u bd i vis ion i s us u a I I Y b u i I t a s an en t ire un it. wit h
density. effects on drainage. being considered at the time the
same was developed. This would seem to avoid some potential
problems in that regard. So. that's my thoughts.
MR. TURNER-Wel I.
2Ø.ØØØ. 3Ø.ØØØ
obtrusive thing
some magnitude.
you know. again. many subdivisions are 15.ØØØ.
square feet or more. and probably the most
ona piece of land could very well be a shed of
and with a five foot setback.
MR. DUSEK-The only concern I have. though. Ted. is that that
Section just doesn't make any distinction.
MR. TURNER-No. I know. but.
MR. DUSEK-I doesn't say. it may be a reason to re-write that
Section.
MR. TURNER-No. but what I'm saying is. I think the intent of the
Town Board. at the time when they changed this. was to only
consider the principal dwell ing in that subdivision. because
every time a subdivision. I ike Ridge Knolls. right. they had to
come here for a variance. for setbacks. because they're in Land
Conservation 42 Acre.
MR. DUSEK-We I I. another one that came in was Herald Square.
MR. TURNER-Right.
MR. DUSEK-But to
conversation at al I
and storage sheds.
be honest with you. I
distinguishing between
don't recall any
principal bui Idings
MR. TURNER-No.
raised.
I know.
but I mean. maybe the issue was never
MR. DUSEK-We I I. right. and if it wasn't. and it's not addressed
in the Statute. then I think that you've got to say that you've
got to say that it al I applies. I'm not saying that you don't
make a good po i nt. but I th i nk it's got to be addressed in the
legislation.
MR. TURNER-We'll take Grants Acres. right? I think those are
three acre lots. Somebody outside of a subdivision could have a
very sma I I lot. and come here seek i ng re lief. and st i II somebody
else could have ten acres. could have five acres. could have two
acres. seeking relief. and I think it's a double standard. I
think. to make an approved subdivision meet the old setbacks. and
the new guys meet the new setbacks. that's a double standard. I
think the requirement. I think they meant to only get rid of the
issue of the nonconforming lot not meeting the setbacks for the
principal dwelling. period.
MR. DUSEK-Certainly. I ike I say. that might be the thing the to
do.
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MR. TURNER-Because we had so many appl ications from Ridge Knol Is
and the various subdivisions, that were all.
MR. DUSEK-I remember that.
MR. CARVIN-So what you're saying, Paul, is that we have to carry
the'two sets.
MR. TURNER-Yes, that's his opinion.
MR. DUSEK-Yes, I don't see, unless they change the law and re-
write it. I think your points are wet I taken, but the law says
what í t says. lean' t te II you to go oppos i te and draw, I mean,
because if y6u're going to draw a distínction between accessory
buildings and principa.l struct~res, you've got to (lost word).
MR. TURNER-I know, but you're taiking from 1967 to 1996.
one hell of a span.
That's
MR. CARVIN-What about, because I know one of the two cases here,
one was the new Ordinance is substantially, 2Ø and 2Ø, and I
t h ink i t was 3Ø, and the 0 the r 0 new as g rea t e r .
MR. TURNER-The other one was 3Ø from the rear and 5 from the
side.
MR. CARVIN-So that the current.
MR. THOMAS-In the case of, I ike, Gary DeAngelo, he's more than 3Ø
from the rear, but he wants to put a one, but if he sl id that
thing 4 foot in, he could put a 2ØØ square foot shed right there
and not even have to come see us.
MR. TURNER-If it was 3Ø feet from the rear.
MR. THOMAS-Well, it's ~ than 3Ø feet from the rear.
MR. CARVIN-So,
don't follow the logic there.
MR. DUSEK-Well, what am I missing, then?
different, then.
I'm hearing something
MR. CARVIN-What I'm saying is that, wel I, we're not saying that
they can't bui Id. They have a right to bui Id, and that is part
of their argument, that they can't meet today's standards. In
other words, if they can't, if they don't have 3Ø feet because
their lot is only 3Ø feet, for example, then they can't meet
today's standard, even though that that was an approved situation
back teny~ars ago, or fifteen years ago.
MR. DUSEK-But they don't have to come in for a variance.
MR. CARVIN-If they can't meet todav's standards.
MR. DUSEK-If you're in an approved subdivision.
MR. TURNER-No. That's what he's saying.
MR. MENTER-Yes. That's what Section B says.
MR. DUSEK-The I aw says, if you're in an approved' subd ¡vi s i on, you
comply with the standards that then existed.
MR. TURNER-He's sa.ying that Orban could have put the shed 3Ø feet
from the rear and 5 feet from the side I ine and they'd have been
in comp Ii ance.
MR. CARVIN-Okay. Yes. What you're saying is that the sheds go
along with thè principal, in other words, that the sheds can't be
held to a different standard.
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MR. DUSEK-Setbacks are setbacks.
MR. TURNER-Yes, setbacks are setbacks.
MR. CARVIN-So, in other words, if the house is legal, then the
shed should be legal, according to the same Ordinance.
MR. MARTIN-That's the way we
structures, whether accessory or
same setback. It cuts both ways.
treat it, right now.
principal, are subject
All
to the
MR. TURNER-I know, but it's a double standard. This is 1994, not
1967, and I think things have changed, and densities are, you're
getting more population. You're getting more bui Idings in the
Town, and I think you've got to take and take those sheds and get
them away from the lot I ines, especially those enormous sheds
that come in 24Ø, 34Ø.
MR. MENTER-I'm kind of just getting this, because I wasn't here
last week when this issue came up.
MR. MARTIN-Yes, but the other thing is I think by, if you, say
you were to strike that from the Ordinance, and you ~ going to
have accessory structures come in, even in Planning Board
approved subdivisions, that can't meet today's standards. They
have a natural argument for an Area Variance. So, in other
words, I think you're just going to be fi II ing up your agenda
with a bunch of things that are going to be, I mean, what basis
would there be to deny it? What's the detriment to the
neighborhood?
MR. MENTER-Ted, you're saying that you would separate the two,
separate the accessories from primary bui Idings?
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MR. DUSEK-You're saying the accessory uses would have to comply
with the current standards?
MR. TURNER-Yes. Lets take Mr. DeAngelo's case, for
right. Here he is, he's right up next to his house.
was the setback 3Ø feet from the front?
instance,
He's, what
MS. CIPPERLY-The setback, in 1967, was five feet from the line.
MR.
the
TURNER-Right, five feet from
rear.
the side and
thirty feet from
MS. CIPPERLY-Currently, it's twenty.
MR. TURNER-Right.
MR. DUSEK-From the side?
MR. TURNER-From the rear and the side, both.
MS. CIPPERLY-Yes. He just needed side rei ief.
MR. TURNER-Anything over the permitted square footage is twenty
and twenty.
MS. CIPPERLY-The part about the allowable square footage sti I I
would apply to him. He couldn't put a shed over 2ØØ square feet
on there because that other Section still would apply. That's
not a setback issue.
MR. DUSEK-So then you have a safety belt in the Ordinance, in
terms of large structures that you bui Id, that you're going to
have to sti II comply.
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MR. TURNER-Yes. See. he could have bui It 2ØØ square feet there.
I think.
MR. THOMAS-Yes. He could bui Id five foot off his property line.
thirty foot from the rear. 2ØØ square feet. without seeing us.
according to the 1967 standards.
MR. TURNER-As far as the setbacks.
MR. THOMAS-A~ far as the setbacks are concerned.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MR. DUSEK-But in theory. if he's in that old of a subdivision. is
there other bui Idings already there that are I ike that. I mean.
or is it changing the character of the subdivision in the zone?
MR. TURNER-No. He's changing it. That puts it right up beside
his house. right next to his garage.
MR. DUSEK-So you're saying that this is something bad. that the
legislation has allowed in there.
MR. TURNER-That's right.
MR. CARVIN-It could be bad.
MR. THOMAS-It could be bad~ but. see. in this case.
got. he's more th~n 3Ø feet from the rear lot line.
I think he's
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MR. THOMAS-But he's sti I I within the parameters of the 1967
Ordinance.
MR. TURNER-I know he is.
MR. THOMAS-And there's nothing we can do about it. that I can
see.
MR. DUSEK-Wel I. according to ~ opinion.
MR. THOMAS-According to ~ opinion. according to what the law
~ read has written.
MR. MENTER-What's the precedent that makes you see an accessory
thè same' way. in terms of setbacks. as a primary bui Iding? I
mean. is that an establ ished precedent that is just the way
things are done?
MR. DUSEK-Wel I. what happened is is that when they wrote that
Section of the law. and I was involved in the writing of that
Section of the law. so I'd remember it. nobody thought about it.
and so as a result. when you look at the language. is a general
reference to setbacks. saying the setbacks apply as they were
when the subdivision was bui It. So. you have to assume that
those regulations apply to everything. to houses. to sheds.
everything.
MR. MARTIN-Yes. That's
Ordinance exemptions.
ordinary.
standard exemption language for Zoning
I mean. that's nothing out of the
MR. DUSEK-Well. it is. There's a difference here. I've got to
tell you this. That's part of why you're seeing this happening.
and this problem. is because. under State law~ and under a lot of
Zoning Ordinance. they only give you three years for an approved
subdivision. Thereafter. they make everything go back in before
the Zoning Board of Appeals. In fact. our Ordinance used to be
that way.
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MR. TURNER-That's right.
MR. DUSEK-And then it was changed. to go and give everybody the
exemption.
MR. MARTIN-Yes. but it did it on älL lots. and that's very
unusual. even non Planning Board subdivision apprOved lots. lots
that have been. The three year window was on all lots.
MR. DUSEK-Originally.
MR. MARTIN-Yes. and that was verv unusual.
MR. DUSEK-Wel I. that part of it was. but what we have now is a
I ittle different from the norm. too. in terms of forever
exempting everybody. you know. in subdivisions. and I think the
question is. I think that if the Board wanted to make a
recommendation to the Town Board to doctor it uP. you're
certainly within your powers to tell them that. you know. by way
of. I would make a statement and have everybody vote on it. make
sure you get a consensus from the Board. and pass it on to the
Town Board and te I I th i s is the change you recommend. if you
think. you know. if you see something. as a Board member sitting
here. that yoù see a potential problem. and I think the law.
right now. locks you in. I don't see how you can say to
somebody.
MR. MARTIN-The only point I'd like to raise. though. is I caution
you. take any hypothetical situation where you have an accessory
structure that's coming in. that can't meet a current side yard
setback. because the lot was an old. met the requirements of an
old Ord i nance. What is go i ng to be any reason to deny that?
Think of the Area Variance tests that you have to go through.
MR. TURNER-Okay. but lets try the other scenario. They come in
to your Department and they say. I want to bui Id a shed. and you
ask them where they're located. what zone they're in and
everything. you go look it up on the tax map. Here's a tax map
in front of you. with a piece of property. description right on
it. and they've got a real small lot. and they're coming in.
They want to bui Id a 35Ø square foot shed. I think it's up to
you to tell them. look it. the lot is .§..Q. small. you can't
accommodate that shed on there. with the other amenities you've
got on that piece of land. and the Zoning Board won't grant you a
variance. but you can have a shed on there five foot from the
rear. and five from the side. at one hundred square feet. without
anything. That's a difference.
MR. DUSEK-I think I see what Ted is saying. in terms of that. the
thinking that was in place in the old days. We're already seeing
that. Maybe it wasn't. you know. in I ight of what we now know.
it was not appropriate. In other words. that they. before. where
they used to al low a 35Ø foot shed to go on a property. now.
based on everything we've learned today. on drainage and
everything else. that. and septics and congestion. that maybe
that's not the thing to do. and what I think vou're saying. Ted.
is we can stop that by a change in the Ordinance.
MR. TURNER-Absolutely.
MR. DUSEK-If that's a problem.
I don't know.
MR. TURNER-We I I. can see it com i ng. can see it com i ng.
because. you know. you take. for instance. the guy on the Country
Club Road that came for the garage. just because he's got a bunch
of toys.
MR. CARVIN-Boats and trai lers.
MR. TURNER-He's got a two car garage attached to the house. and
- 16 -
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he wants to put a 958 square foot garage in the back because he's
got a great big lot.
MR. CARVIN-As far as
on that.
I can tel I. he did.
I think the condition
MR. TURNER-Was that he had to close
Ii vabl e.
in the. make the other part
MR. CARVIN-But I drove by there the other day. and it certainly
didn't look I ike I iving area. to me. It sure looked I ike a two
car garage.
MR. THOMAS-He had a garage sale going.
MR. CARVIN-l.!!. the garage. in the I iving area.
MR. MARTIN-Yes. but I think there's bigger flaws in the Ordinance
than this. I think a very big flaw in the Ordinance is you
permi~ boat storage as a separate accessory use. I'm in an
eitrèmely poor positron. as Zoning Administrator. when an
application comes in that says boat storage on it. What am I
supposed to say? He needs a car sized garage door to fit a boat
in. That creates an enforcement problem. just I ike that. because
if yo~ really Want to enforce the law. you've got to go by there
al I the time and make sure you don't see boats in that structure.
MS. CIPPERLY-Getting back to the setback thing. though. one way
of look i ng at . it. as far as the P lann i ng Board approved
subdivÎsions. they're usually smaller lots than the current
zoning. I~w'ntfrom maybe. say they're third acre lots. and
tOday's zoning is one acre. which is what most of our residential
is. Everybody that's in those third acre lots. when they were
bui It. they put a bui Iding envelope to work within. and said.
this is what we'll do. and a lot of the houses are sited based on
those setbacks. Today. those setbacks are based on having an
acre. and for. if you have an acre. those are reasonable
setbacks. If you have a third of an acre. it's not. and we had
some.
MR. MARTIN-That's why I say. I caution you. You're going to fi II
up the agenda with a rot of things that a~e. you know. they're
going to have very strong arguments for those variances.
MS. CIPPERLY~We had some
that were done in 1955.
réasons for granting it
done. the lots were so
setbacks of today.
this winter that were in subdivisions
Cottage Hi II area. and one of your
was. well. when that subdivision was
small that you can't possibly meet the
MR. TURNER-That's true.
places itdóesn't apply.
It app lies in some places. and other
MS.CIPPERLY-Bu~ they had to come in and get a variance. and
they're reason wàs. their lot was too småli.
MR. TURNER~Absolutely. and I would agree with you there.
right.
You're
MS. CIPPERLY-So. you want to put al I the people in Planriing Board
approved subdivisions through some more hoops. and what they're
reason is al I going to be is my lot is too smal I to accommodate
today's setbacks.
MR. TURNER-What I'm saying to you
with the permitted sized sheds.
garage sized sheds.
is. now they're coming in. not
They're coming in with one car
MS. C I PPERL Y- Yes. and SFR is rea I I Y the on I y one t hat I i m its the
size of sheds. I bel ieve. to 2ØØ square feet.
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MR. TURNER-We've had three in the last two meetings. Jesse on
Heresford.
MR. DUSEK-But they're coming in to you. though. already. right?
MR. TURNER-Yes. but they're coming in with one car garages. and
ca II i ng them sheds.
MR. DUSEK-But how are you getting jurisdiction over it?
this Board getting jurisdiction over those?
How is
MR. TURNER-They're oversized.
MR. MARTIN-It's SFR.
It's I imited to 2ØØ square feet.
MS. CIPPERLY-Wel I. Jesse came in because he wanted to be five
feet from the I ine. and I think he was a. you know. they're sti I I
asking for rei ief. even from those Planning Board approved.
MR. DUSEK-But you're getting them already. See. the only reason
I can think of making a change to the Ordinance. is if you felt
you weren't getting (lost word).
MR. MARTIN-I could see. if you want to. and
Ordinances where they vary the setback with
accessory structure. You could do that.
I've seen
the size
it in
of the
MR. TURNER-Wel I. we've already done that. We've said anything
that's over 1ØØ square feet has to meet the setbaok of 2Ø and 2Ø.
MR. DUSEK-But where you haven't done it. though. is when they get
into this exception clause.
MR. TURNER-Right.
MR. DUSEK-Maybe that. there's a way.
MR. TURNER-That's what I'm say i ng. They're say i ng.
exception clause. that anybody outside has to meet the
setbacks. Everybody inside the pre-approved subdivisions
have to meet. they have to meet the old setbacks.
in the
current
doesn't
MR. DUSEK-I see what you're saying. You're saying that because
of the way the Ordinance used to be written. these. now I get the
double standard. Because we're making al I the new subdivisions.
we're saying. depending upon what you're shed size is. you can
either be here or here. in terms of setbacks.
MR. TURNER-Right. Absolutely.
MR. DUSEK-But. if you I ive in an older subdivision. no matter
what size it is. you can be only five feet away. and what I think
Ted is saying is you ought to have some restrictions that. yes. a
I ittle small shed I ike everybody else has in the neighborhood.
fine.
MR. TURNER-Well. you know. we tell them. you can have a 1ØØ
square foot shed 5 feet from your rear and 5 feet from your side.
MR. DUSEK-But if a guy comes in with a big one. maybe it's not
appropriate for the neighborhood. Maybe it doesn't fit with the
character. but if the Ordinance allowed it in. under the old way.
then what's happening is you're creating a monster in there that
you didn't want.
MR. THOMAS-Take ~ case. for example. I I ive in a subdivision
that was in 1983. Pinewood Hol low. okay; It's a Woodbury
Subdivision. Acøording to the regulations back then. I could put
a 2ØØ square foot shed. 5 foot off the property line. 3Ø foot
from the rear property I ine. Nobody else in the subdivision has
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that. because nobody else knows. in that subdivision. they can
have that. or maybe nobody else wants it. but maybe I want one
because I could sl ide my car in there during the winter. a 1Ø by
2Ø shed. and I don't know if I could. have a garage door on it or
not. but I could surely make the end of 'swing open. I mean.
there's no big deal in that.
MR. TURNER-Once you put a garage door on it. it's a garage.
MR. THOMAS-Yes.
can't swing the
L can't come to
subdivision. and
it's a garage. but there's nothing
side of the bui Iding out. So what's
Jim for a 2ØØ square foot storage
he can't deny me that right.
that says I
to say that
shed in my
MR. TURNER-You can. the way it is now.
MR. THOMAS-As long as it meets the 5 foot side line. 3Ø foot
rear.
MR. DUSEK-Whereas. ~omebody in a new subdivision. approved since
the new Ordinance.
MR. THOMAS-That's right.
MR. MARTIN-Then that .cenario would have to meet the setback of a
principal structure.
~R. THOMAS-With the Heresford there. that we just. now
since 1988. All right. They have to meet the 2Ø and 2Ø.
went over 1ØØ square foot.
they're
if they
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MR. DUSEK-I understand what you're saying. The way the Ordinance
is written. that loophole is there. The only way to close the
door on that is to make a legislative amendment.
MR. TURNE.R-Yes. I know.
MR. .DUSEK-Because right now. the way it's written. I .don't think
you have any choice. but the Town Board could legislate that
change. That's an innocuous enough change that it could be done
easy enough. if the Town Board and the Planning Staff are behind
that kind of a change. I don't know.
MR. MARTIN-I'm al I for a change.
It's just a ma~~er of getting.
MS. CIPPERLY-The time to do it.
MR. TURNER-But I just feel it's an unfair standard.
MR. DUSEK-I see what you're saying.
MR. THOMAS-It is unfair. but that's the way the law's written.
MR. TURNER-I know.
MR. THOMAS-What are you going to do?
MR. TURNER-We can't do anything unti I they do something with it.
MR. CARVIN-So. as far as these two that are tabled. then. one of
them really doesn'.t have to be here.
MR. TURNER-I think one of them is going to comply. Right?
MS. CIPPERLY-DeAngelo is putting. he's bui.lding a conforming 1ØØ
foot shed. five feet from the line. ten feet from his house. So
he's not going to be back. I'm waiting for a letter from them.
Orban is the one who wanted to be zero setback. By the 0 I d
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subdivision reg~lations. he could
th i rty feetf·rom the back. By
twen.ty. E it her way. he" s ask i ng
mean. 1 øø percent re lief.
. be ten feet f~om the side and
t he new ORes.' it's twenty and
for 1ØØ foot re~ief on the. I
MR. TURNER-We I I. you know. w~at's happening today is. there's a
lot more toys out t~here. right. that everybody's buying. and
they've got no place to put them.' sot hey fill the garage up w í t h
them. and then al I of a sudden the garage isn't big enough to put
the cars in. So now they need a great big shed out back to put
all the toys in. So. that's what's happening.
MS. CIPPERLY-As a practical matter. trying to keep track of al I
this. as a Staff person it's difficult.
MR. MARTIN- hate approving that boat storage there on Country
Club Road. Doc Evans Is another one. He's got this very
elaborate structure on this lot up in Cleverdale that's boat
storage.
MR. DUSEK-No. it is tough. That's what's happening. though.
MR. MARTIN-And if he cal Is that boat storage. my hands are tied.
I mean. he's got a three bay.
MR. TURNER-We I I. why don't you ask for an interpretation from the
Zoning Board. what ~ think about it. We can clear the air.
Well. you know. some people think they need the biggest bui Iding
on the block. and by the time they get everything in it. they've
got so much room left. you know. You'd be surprised what you can
put in a 1ØØ square foot shed. if you do it right. You put up
peg boards and stuff. you can put a lot of stuff in a 1ØØ square
foot shed. and they just don't real ize it. They think they've
got to have the biggest one in the neighborhood. Because the guy
next door's got one that's 2ØØ square feet. So they've got to
have one 4ØØ square feet.
MR. MARTIN-We're in agreement as to how it reads right now. but.
MR. TURNER-Reluctantly.
MR. CARVIN-Should a change be instituted.
question.
think.
is the
MR. TURNER-Yes.
think it should.
MR. CARVIN-Okay.
MR. TURNER-I think it's up to this Board to ask the Town Board to
change~he loophole in the law.
MR. CARVIN-Do we need a motion to do that?
MR. TURNER-Yes. I think so.
MR. DUSEK-To have any kind of impact.
MR. TURNER-Right. To have any kind of impact. you've got to have
a motion.
MOTION THAT THE TOWN BOARD LOOK AT ARTICLE 1Ø GENERAL EXCEPTIONS
SECTION 179-76 IN REFERENCE TO PARAGRAPH A. PARAGRAPH B. AND
PARAGRAPH C. AS IT RELATES TO THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AS
DICTATED IN THE ORDINANCE. ESP'ECIALLY THOSE THAT PRE-DATE THE
EXISTING ORDINANCE. WHICH IS PARAGRAPH A. PARAGRAPH B. AS IT
RELATES TO THE PLANNING BOARD APPROVED SUBDIVISIONS. WITH THE
REQUIREMENT THAT THE SETBACKS OF ACCESSORY STRUCTURES APPLYING AT
THE TIME THE SUBDIVISION WAS APPROVED ARE MET. AND PARAGRAPH C.
WHICH RELATES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY NONCONFORMING LOT OF
RECORD EXISTING OUTSIDE OF SUBDIVISIONS. WHICH HAVE TO COMPLY
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WITH THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER UNLESS THE ZONING
BOARD OF APPEALS GRANTS A VARIANCE. IT IS THE OPINION OF THIS
BOARD THAT THERE APPEARS TO BE A DOUBLE STANDARD AS IT RELATES TO
THOSE WHO LIVE IN SUBDIVISIONS. AND AS TO THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE
OF SUBDIVISIONS. THEREFORE. A CHANGE IN THE LANGUAGE MERITS
CONSIDERATION BY THE TOWN BOAR,D AS IT RELATES ,TO THESE SECTIONS
DESCRtBED. AND THAT WOULD RELATE. BASICALLY. TO ACCESSORY
STRUCTURES. THAT THE EXEMPTIONS SET FORTH SHALL NOT APPLY TO
ACCESSORY STRUCTURES IN SUBDIVISIONS.. Introduced by Theodore
Turner who moved for its adoption. seconded by Fred Carvin:
Duly adopted this 27th day of July. 1994. by the fol lowing vote:
MR. KARPELES-Wel I. how does that apply to ~ lot that nobody has
b u i I ton i n a s u bd i vis ion. a pre e xis tin 9 lot?
MR. TURNER-It sti I I appl ies the way it's written now.
meet the setbacks that were establ ished at the
anything. for the principal dwel I ing and the accessory
That's what it says now.
that they
t i ,m e . for
bu i I dings.
MR. KARPELES-Okay. The way you want it to read now. it means
that. if you're bui Iding,a principal bui Iding. you would have to
comply with the current zoning?
MR. TURNER-The current zoning. the setbacks of the current
zoning.
MR. KARPELES-I just wanted to be clear on that.
MR. TURNER-Mainly. it has to do with the setbacks of accessory
bui Idings. because.
MR. ~ENTER-You're not so much talking about the principal
dwe I ling.
MR. TURNER-No. because if it's in a subdivision. it's in a pre-
approved subdivision. the principal buj Iding should have to meet
the setbacks of that subdivision.
MR. MENTER-Right. There would be a strong argument. like Jim was
saying. to just conform to the other bui Idings. which was the
original setbacks. and not make them adhere to the new ones.
MR. TURNER-They're saying that if these subdivisions were
approved previous to 1982. then it goes back to 1967 Zoning
Ordinance. which says. the accessory bui Idings are five feet off
the side I ine and 30 feet from the rear.
MR. MENTER-So it may be more des~rable just to. specifically.
app I y any change to accessory bu i I dings.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
s u bd i vis ion. has
double standard.
Where the guy. now.
to meet the setback of
I think.
that's outside of the
20 and 20. That's a
MR. KARPELES-So we're just ta I king accessory bu i I dings. that's
all.
MR. DUSEK-To make sure 1. understand it. too. because I'll
pro,b~blv ,be involve.,d.., Basically. wh.at I'm hearing is that
R~ob~bkV. ,the qnsw~r to your concern is by s~mply saying at the
er;¡d.of tt)at sect Lon th~t grants the exemptiGn. just .$laY. except
th~t~ccessory uses shall comply witb the cur~ent zoning.
MR. TURN~R-That'sall.
, ,
, ,
MR. THOMAS-Wquld you say that would. .,a.l.teviate a lot of
,~nneOe$s,ry variances?
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MR. TURNER-For shed s 7
MR. THOMAS-No. for houses.
MR. TURNER-No.
How about Ridge Knol Is. up there7
MR. THOMAS-It says a subdivision before 1988. if it meets the
setbacks. I don't know what the setback requirements were.
MR. MENTER-You're saying that they didn't require a variance. and
they came for one7
MR. THOMAS-Yes. did not require a variance. according to that
section. I don't know what the setback standards were.
MR. TURNER-That's why they changed that. because they were always
coming in f~r a variance for setback rei ief. because they're in a
Land Conservation 42 Acre zone. and when they used to be in.
MR. THOMAS-Yes.
It was an RR-3.
MR. TURNER-RR-3. yes. They were different.
MR. THOMAS-Because we didn't deny any in Ridge Knol Is. I've been
here two years. and I think we've given four or five in there.
They rea I I Y d i dn' t have to come here because they cou I d have
cited that section.
MR. TURNER-We I I. they didn't change this 'ti I
amended 3/5/90. once. 7/29/91. 11/23/92.
around a few times.
'91. By Loca I Law.
So they've kicked
MR. THOMAS-That subdivision was approved back in the 70's.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
MR. THOMAS-And I don't know what the setbacks were for an RR-3
zone. as compared to an LC-42.
MR. TURNER-They were probably 50. 50. and 5Ø. or 50. 30. and 30.
or something I ike that.
MR. THOMAS-It seems to me we've given a few variances that we
really didn't need to give.
MR. TURNER-Wel I. we gave them unti I they cleared that uP. and
then they didn't come in any more.
MR. THOMAS-Yes.
MR. TURNER-That's what happened to it. They took it away from
them. We said to the Town Board. look it. you've got to do
something with this. because here these guys have already got a
subdivision. and they've got lots. and they've got to come for a
variance every time to do whatever they want to do on it. and
that's fine. and mY point is that probably the ugl iest bui Iding
on the lot could be an accessory bui Iding. and I think that could
be the biggest bone of contention in the whole neighborhood.
MR. THOMAS-It could be.
MR. TURNER-Because the house is already establ ished. The
accessory bui Iding is probably the last thing to come.
MR. THOMAS-We I I. doesn't the Beautification Committee have
something to say about that7 It's I ike a bui Iding. Lake George
has an Architectural Review Board that you have to pass before
you can go on.
MR. TURNER-Yes. They don't. here.
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MR. THOMAS-Maybe they should. to stop something like that from
bui Iding across our bui Idings.
MR. TURNER-But that's !!!.y.. point. I think if the guy outside has
to comply with the setbacks. so does the guy inside. WhY is he
locked in just because he bought a. suppose the lot was there and
he just bought it. He fall.s back to the time of inception. and
that's not fair. because this is not 1967. This is 1994. and
you're going to have more density out there. You're going to
have more bui Idings. You're going to have more residences. and
this old Town. you can see it. it's bui Iding right Qut. Here
comes the time bomb. It's just waiting to explode. You could
see i.t the other night with DeAngelo. the neighbors across the
street did not want that shed in that front yard. and that's
about what it amounted to.
MR. THOMAS-There's something in there that we don't know about.
though.
MR. TURNER-Yes. no doubt there is.
MR. THOMAS-There's probably some personal confl ict in that. too.
but there always wi II be. You can't zone that out.
MR. TURNER-Yes. No. yoU can't zone that out.
MR. KARPELES-Which one was DeAngelo. the on~ that already had the
concrete poured?
MR. CARVIN-Yes. he poured the concrete.
MR. TURNER-But. I mean. you've just got to strike that out of
your thoughts and say. tak~ them as a true comment. and let it go
at that.
MR. THOMAS-In your mind. you know.
MR. TURNER-This was for lots in Critical Environmental Areas.
basically. That's what this was all about. What were your
thoughts. again, as to the five words You just stated? Change
the?
MR. MENTER-Just to give them a recommendation. so they know where
you're really coming from.
MR. DUSEK-Something like except that. the exception to the.
MR. TURNER-Except that the exceptions set forth
shal I not apply. right. to accessory structures?
in this section
MR. DUSEK-What you want is accessory uses to al I comply. now.
with the current zoning standards.
MR. TURNER-Right. Yes.
MR. DUS~K-Whereas. you're wi I I ing to accept the fact that
principal structures should get the old exemption because they're
not going to be offensive.
MR. TURNER-No. they're not going to be offensive. because they're
all the same.
MR. DUSEK-Right. and also. when you think about it. they can only
put so big of a house on a quarter lot anyway.
MR. TURNER-That's right.
MR. DUSEK-I think I certainly understand what you're driving at.
I f the Town Board gives me the green light. 1'1 I go ahead and
draft it along the I ¡nes that I think you're doing it. and.
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obviously, wi I I provide you with a courtesy copy.
MR. TURNER-Okay. So just add that the exemption set forth shal I
not apply to accessory structures in subdivisions. That says it
enough.
MR. CARVIN- would say.
AYES: Mr. Menter, Mr. Karpeles, Mr. Carvin, Mr. Turner
NOES: Mr. Thomas
ABSENT: Mr. Maresco
MR. TURNER-Okay.
MR. DUSEK-There' I I have to be a publ ic hearing and everything
else on all this anyway. So if the Board gives the go ahead, if
they do, I'll send you a courtesy copy of the leg i s I at ion.
MR. TURNER-Yes.
On motion meeting was adjourned.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Theodore Turner, Chairman
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