HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972_02_23 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK HELD FEBRUARY 23, 1972, IN THE COURT
ROOM OF THE COURT HOUSE, 1201 PALMER AVENUE, TOWN OF MAMARONECK.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman at
8:15 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mr. Richard F. Eggers, Chairman
Mr. E. Robert Wassman
Mr. Donald D. Geary, Jr.
Mr. Andrew W. Boraczek
Mr. Egbert R. Hardesty
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of December 1, 1971 were
presented and on motion duly made and seconded, ap-
proved as submitted.
PUBLIC HEARING
The Chairman declared the hearing open and the Sec-
retary presented for the record the affidavit of
publication of the notice of hearing.
The Chairman asked the Secretary to read the first
application.
APPLICATION NO. 1 - CASE 351
Application of Dr. Nicholas Marsh for modification
of Article IV Section 410 Schedule of Residence Dis-
trict Regulations for an R-7.5 Residential District
of the Zoning Ordinance so as to allow the construc-
tion of an addition at the rear of the dwelling hav-
ing a minimum side yard of 4.0 feet instead of the
minimum required side yard of 10 feet on the premises
located at 72 North Chatsworth Avenue and known on
the Tax Assessment Map of the Town of Mamaroneck
as Block 117 Parcel 221 on the grounds of practical
difficulty and/or unnecessary hardship.
Mr. Eggers asked the applicant whether he was con-
sidering amending the filed plans. Dr. Marsh replied
that he had thought of changing the plan but had
not revised the drawings to show the changes. The
Chairman informed the applicant that he could file
revised plans at the next regular meeting but the
Board would have to hear the case based on the plans
as filed and the Board would be the sole judge as
to whether any modification to the plan at this hear-
ing would require a new hearing. Dr. Marsh agreed
to have his case heard based on the application and
plans as submitted.
Dr. Marsh stated that the dwelling was built in 1925
and the garage at present is too small for the large
cars in use today and he needs space for two cars.
Presently the applicants two cars are constantly
in the driveway or the back yard and the present
garage is used for storage because of the difficulty
of getting in and out.
The applicant said there is no powder room on the
first floor of the residence and no closet for stor-
age of their vacuum cleaner, waxer, etc. Dr. Marsh,
also, stated that since his family is growing they
need a family room which according to the plan would
be off the kitchen. The applicant stated the sun
room is too cold to use in the winter.
Dr. Marsh pointed out that since he purchased the
house about three years ago he has made extensive
improvements to the kitchen and at that time he had
not thought of making any other additions to the
house. The applicant,also, pointed out that he could
move the addition over but it would involve tearing
down some of the improvements he had made in the
kitchen which he feltwas his greatest hardship.
The Board pointed out that when the house was built
the side yard setback was acceptable but because
of the shape of the lot the addition would increase
the non-conformity to 4' at the back of the proposed
addition. The Board asked Dr. Marsh what he intended
to use his present garage for if the variance is
granted. The applicant said they would probably
continue to use it for storage. The Board, also,
questioned as to whether the foundation would be
the same and Dr. Marsh said it would remain the same.
The applicant said he also had plans to landscape.
Dr. Marsh presented the Board with a letter from
his neighbor, Mr. Robert B. Piesinger, 70 North Chats-
worth Avenue. Mr. Piesinger said in his letter he
wanted to go on record as having no objection to
the construction of the proposed addition at the
rear of Dr. Marsh's residence.
Mr. George Carl, 76 North Chatsworth Avenue, whose
residence is on the other side of Dr. Marsh, appeared
and stated that he felt he was the one most affected
by the proposed addition. Mr. Carl said he certainly
sympathizes with Dr. Marsh's problems with his gar-
age and not having a closet and bathroom on the first
floor but by Dr. Marsh extending the addition to
the rear his view will be cut off and this was his
only objection. Mr. Carl said that in the nice weather
they live out on their screened porch and if the
variance is granted they will be facing a wall.
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Mr. Carl, also, stated that Dr. Marsh had done a
lot of work to improve his house but if the variance
was granted the value of Mr. Carl's property will
be impaired.
After further discussion a vote was taken on the
application and the result was as follows:
Commissioner Eggers - Nay
Commissioner Wassman - Nay
Commissioner Geary - Nay
Commissioner Boraczek- Aye
Commissioner Hardesty- Nay
The application was therefore denied and the follow-
ing Resolution duly adopted:
WHEREAS, Dr. Nicholas Marsh has submitted
an application for a building permit to
the Building Inspector for the construc-
tion of an addition at the rear of the
dwelling together with plans; and
WHEREAS, the Building Inspector has refused
to issue such permit on the grounds that
the plans submitted failed to comply with
the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Mama-
roneck with particular reference to Arti-
cle IV Section 410 Schedule of Residence
District Regulations for an R-7.5 Residen-
tial District of the Zoning Ordinance which
requires a side yard of 10 feet on the pre-
mises located at 72 North Chatsworth Avenue
and known on the Tax Assessment Map of the
Town of Mamaroneck as Block 117 Parcel 221;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Nicholas Marsh has submitted
to this Board an application for a variance
on the ground of practical difficulty and/
or unnecessary hardship for the following
reasons:
1. Present garage is too small
to accommodate a large car.
2. The applicant needs a closet
on the first floor to use for
their vacuum cleaner, waxer,
etc.
3. There is no bathroom or pow-
der room on the first floor which
is an inconvenience.
4. Since the applicant's fam-
ily is growing they need a fam-
ily room because the sunroom
cannot be used in the winter.
WHEREAS, this Board has examined the plans,
reviewed the application and has heard
all persons interested in this application
after publication of a notice thereof,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that this Board denied the ap-
plication on the following grounds:
1. That the proposed addition
would create a non-conforming
side yard of 4 feet.
2. That the proposed addition
could be redesigned and located
to maintain adequate light,
air and privacy to adjoining
properties.
3. That there were no special
circumstances or conditions
applying to the land for which
the variance is sought, which
circumstances or conditions
are peculiar to such land and
which do not apply generally
to land in the district.
4. That the facts and circum-
stances claimed by the appli-
cant to entitle him to the var-
iance are not such as would
deprive him of the reasonable
use of the land.
5. That the granting of the
variance would not be in har-
mony with the general purposes
and intent of this Ordinance
and would be injurious to the
neighborhood and detrimental
to the public welfare.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that this decision be
filed with the Town Clerk in accordance
with Section 267 of the Town Law.
The Chairman asked the Secretary to read the next
application.
APPLICATION NO. 2 - CASE 352
Application of Mr. Frank Micelli for modification
of Article IV Section 410 Schedule of Permitted
Uses in a "B" Business District of the Zoning Or-
dinance so as to allow the construction of a con-
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tractor's garage and office to store and maintain
contractor's equipment and buses located on the
easterly side of Valley Place and known on the Tax
Assessment Map of the Town of Mamaroneck as Block
131 Parcels 36, 40 and 45 on the grounds of prac-
tical difficulty and/or unnecessary hardship.
Mr. Francis Auletta, an Attorney of 243 Mamaroneck
Avenue, represented Mr. Micelli and stated that
the Board had given Mr. Micelli a variance on May
27, 1970 for the storage and parking of contractor's
equipment on a parcel of land 50' x 100' . Mr. Auletta
said that Mr. Micelli had levelled the land and
put up a fence. Later Mr. Micelli purchased another
25 feet and just recently purchased additional land.
Mr. Micelli now owns three parcels and has a lot
150 feet in frontage and 100 feet in depth and wants
to construct a one story building 50' x 75' to be
used for a contractor's garage and office to store
and maintain contractor's equipment and buses.
Mr. Auletta pointed out that the surrounding area
is being used for Light Industry even though it
is zoned for Business and that the use contemplated
would not be injurious to the neighborhood or detri-
mental to the public welfare.
Mr. Eggers pointed out that the request for a vari-
ance was based only on usage and that his only con-
y`" cern was in regard to the noise from the buses.
Mr. Micelli said that he intended to repair the
buses in the garage and if necessary he would store
them in the garage,too. The applicant said that
at present there are 17 vehicles stored on his pro-
perty but when they have a job the equipment is
left on the job site until the job is completed
and that only about 4 or 5 cars used by his employees
might be parked on the property.
Mr. Wassman questioned as to whether the use and
maintenance of equipment and buses would come under
the requirements of a Special Permit subject to
the approval of the Town Board.
The Board, also, questioned the applicant as to
whether he was going to install any gas pumps and
Mr. Micelli said he only intended to use the pumps
for his own equipment. Mr. Eggers told the appli-
cant that if he intended to repair and maintain
other equipment such as buses which are not inci-
dental to his business it would be considered a
Special Use category and would need a Special Per-
mit from the Town Board.
Mr. Auletta presented the Board with a petition
signed by several of the adjoining property owners
approving the application and stated that his client
would amend his plan and application to only include
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the construction of a garage for the storage and
maintenance of equipment incidental to his contract-
ing business.
After further discussion the Board decided to vote
on the application to allow a garage to be used as
a contractor's establishment and for the storage
of the applicant's equipment incidental to his con-
tracting business.
A vote was taken on the application and the result
was as follows:
Commissioner Eggers - Aye
Commissioner Wassman - Nay
Commissioner Geary - Aye
Commissioner Boraczek- Aye
Commissioner Hardesty- Aye
The application was therefore approved and the fol-
lowing Resolution duly adopted:
WHEREAS, Mr. Frank Micelli has submitted
an application to allow the construction
of a contractor's garage and office to
store and maintain contractor's equipment
and buses located in a "B" Business Dis-
trict together with plans; and
WHEREAS, the plans submitted failed to
comply with the Zoning Ordinance of the
Town of Mamaroneck with particular refer-
ence to Article IV Section 410 Schedule
of Permitted Uses in a "B" Business Dis-
trict which does not permit a contractor's
garage and office in a "B" Business Dis-
trict on the premises located on the eas-
terly side of Valley Place and known on
the Tax Assessment Map of the Town of Mama-
roneck as Block 131 Parcels 36, 40 and
45; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Frank Micelli has submitted
to this Board an application for a vari-
ance on the ground of practical difficulty
and/or unnecessary hardship for the fol-
lowing reasons:
1. The applicant has purchased
additional land for the purpose
of constructing a garage and
office to provide a place to
store, maintain and repair his
heavy equipment and conduct a
business from.
2. In order to facilitate the
construction of the building
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and to use the lot the applicant
intends to use the proposed build-
ing to store and maintain school
buses.
3. That the proposed building
and use of the property will
be in keeping with the surround-
ing neighborhood.
WHEREAS, this Board has examined the plans,
reviewed the application as amended and
has heard all persons interested in this
application after publication of a notice
thereof,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that this Board finds the fol-
lowing:
(a) That there are special cir-
cumstances and conditions apply-
ing to the land and/or building
for which a variance is sought,
which circumstances and/or con-
ditions are peculiar to such
land and/or buildings and do
not apply generally to the land
and/or buildings in the district
and which circumstances and con-
ditions have not resulted from
any acts of the applicant sub-
sequent to the date of the Zon-
ing Regulations appealed from.
(b) That said circumstances
and/or conditions are as follows:
1. That the property
has been used for
the storage of equip-
ment used in connec-
tion with the appli-
cant's business.
2. That similar con-
tractor's establish-
ments are located in
the area.
3. That the construc-
tion of an office and
garage to maintain
the applicant's equip-
ment would be inciden-
tal to the existing
permitted use.
(c) That the granting of this
variance will be in harmony with
the general purposes and intent
of this Ordinance and will not
be injurious to the neighborhood
or otherwise detrimental to the
public welfare; and it is
FURTHER RESOLVED, that a variance is hereby
granted to the applicant and that Article
IV Section 410 Schedule of Permitted Uses
in a "B" Business District of the Zoning
Ordinance so as to allow the construction
of a contractor's garage and office to
store and maintain contractor's equipment
incidental to his contracting business
on the premises located on the easterly
side of Valley Place and known on the
Tax Assessment Map of the Town of Mamaro-
neck as Block 131 Parcels 36, 40 and 45
in strict conformance with the plans filed
with this application and amended, pro-
vided that the applicant complies in all
other respects with the Zoning Ordinance
and Building Code of the Town of Mamaroneck.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that in accordance with
the Rules and Regulations of the Zoning
Ordinance where a variance is granted
the applicant shall obtain a building
permit within three months of the filing
of this Resolution with the Town Clerk.
The building permit shall be void if con-
struction is not started within six months
and completed within two years of the
date of said permit.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that this decision be
filed with the Town Clerk as provided
in Section 267 of the Town Law.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before
this meeting it was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
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Rita A. Johnson, Secretary
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