Staff Notes 5/20/2020 Town of Queensbury Zoning Board of Appeals
Community Development Department Staff Notes
Area Variance No.: 4-2020
Project Applicant: Manfred Unkauf& Joan McGrath
Project Location: 38 Hiland Drive
Parcel History: n/a
SEQR Type: Type II
Meeting Date: May,20, 2020,March 18, 2020
Description of Proposed Project:
Applicant proposes to remove an 864 sq. ft. garage to construct a 1,680 sq. ft. new garage with second story.
The proposed garage to be used for vehicle and household storage as well as workshop area. Site has an existing
attached garage to the home and a 672 sq. ft. garage/woodshed storage building. Relief requested for number of
garages.
Relief Required:
The applicant requests relief for number of garages.
Section 179-5-020—Garages—Rural Residential 3 acres—RR3A
The applicant proposes to remove an existing detached garage and construct a new garage where the applicant
has three garages already. One attached to the home, one woodshed, and a detached garage.
Criteria for considering an Area Variance according to Chapter 267 of Town Law:
In making a determination, the board shall consider:
1. Whether an undesirable change will be produced in the character of the neighborhood or a detriment
to nearby properties will be created by the granting of this area variance. The project may be
considered to have little to no impact on the neighboring properties as the parcel is 10.31 ac.
2. Whether the benefit sought by the applicant can be achieved by some method, feasible for the
applicant to pursue, other than an area variance. The feasible alternatives may be limited as the
applicant would like to maintain all three garages for different uses—attached garage for vehicles,
woodshed, and detached garage. (Noting the door width is 6 ft. or greater,the buildings are then treated as
garages.)
3. Whether the requested area variance is substantial. The relief may be considered substantial relevant to
the code. Relief is requested to have three garages where only one garage is allowed.
4. Whether the proposed variance will have an adverse effect or impact on the physical or
environmental conditions in the neighborhood or district. The project as proposed may be considered
to have minimal to no impact on the environmental conditions of the site or area.
5. Whether the alleged difficulty was self-created. The project as proposed may be considered self-created.
Staff comments.
The applicant requests to maintain 3 garages on an existing 10 +acre parcel. The plan shows the location of the
three garages.