HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977_03_23 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS OF THE
TOWN OF MAMARONECK HELD MARCH 23, 1977, IN THE COURT HOUSE, 1201
PALMER AVENUE , LARCHMONT, NEW YORK.
CALL TO ORDER
In the absence of the Chairman, the meeting was called
to order at 8:15 P.M. by the acting Chairman, Mr. Andrew
W. Boraczek.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mr. Andrew W. Boraczek, Acting Chairman
Mr. Lawrence G. Bodkin, Jr.
Mr. Peter G. Moore
Absent: Mr. E. Robert Wassman
Mr. Egbert R. Hardesty
Also present: Mr. William Paonessa, Building Inspector
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of February 23, 1977 were
presented and on motion duly made and seconded, approved
as submitted.
PUBLIC HEARING
The Chairman declared the hearing open and the Secretary
presented for the record the affidavit of publication
of the notice of hearing.
Mr. Boraczek explained to the applicants that because
only three members were present their application would
have to be approved unanimously and they had the privi-
lege of having their application heard at another meet-
ing without penalty.
The Secretary was asked to read the application.
APPLICATION NO. 1 - CASE 454
Application of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley I. Stern for modi-
fication of Article VI Section 89-34 Subsection B (3)
"Construction Requirements for an R-7. 5 Residential Dis-
trict" which requires a minimum rear yard of 25 ft. so
as to allow a two story addition and deck at the rear
of the dwelling having a rear yard of 20 ft. on the pre-
mises located at 25 Lookout Circle and known on the Tax
Assessment Map of the Town of Mamaroneck as Block 117
Parcel 23 on the grounds of practical difficulty and/
or unnecessary hardship.
Mr. Boraczek read a letter written by Mr. Stern, the
applicant, in which Mr. Stern stated his reasons for
requesting the variance. In the letter Mr. Stern said
his primary reason for wanting the fourth bedroom and
other facilities was to accommodate his mother who he
anticipates will move in with them shortly, and he felt
the addition was designed to maintain the continuity
of the street without violating the front of the house.
Mr. Stern further stated that they had been living in
the area for the past 15 years, nine of which were in
the dwelling in question and after looking at houses
they could not find an adequate solution to their pro-
blem in a price within their means.
Mr. Stern said he felt his letter was self-explanatory
and at present they had three bedrooms and one bath.
Mr. Arthur Wexler of 17 Valley Road, an Architect, who
drew the plans for the applicants said the house is a
brick Colonial and the addition would match the existing
construction. It was pointed out that the house is pre-
sently non-conforming and the addition will increase the
non-conformity by 1 ' 6".
The Board questioned as to the proposed sliding door
at the rear of the addition and after further discussion
asked that should the application be approved would the
applicant change the plan to show a window unit with
the window sill at least 18" above the finished floor.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Kraus of 33 Lookout Circle who are
the next door neighbors of the Sterns both expressed
their disapproval of the application and said they had
lived in their house for 13 years. Mr. Kraus said he
had spoken to the Sterns and looked at the plan. He
stated that if the addition was allowed it would spoil
his view from his second floor master bedroom. Mr. Kraus
further said that he was concerned about losing some
of his light, looking at a brick wall , and wondered if
there was any other alternative. Mrs. Kraus said it
would change the long standing feeling they had about
living in the house.
It was pointed out that Mr. Stern could build at the
front of his house without a variance and Mr. Wexler
said he had explored other possibilities but the suggested
plan was the most feasible. Mr. and Mrs. Kraus, also,
said they felt the addition would affect the resale of
their home.
After further discussion the Board decided to vote on
the application and the result was as follows:
Commissioner Boraczek - Aye
Commissioner Bodkin - Aye
Commissioner Moore - Aye
The application was therefore approved and the follow-
ing Resolution duly adopted:
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley I. Stern have
submitted an application to the Building Inspec-
1C I
tor to allow the construction of a two story
addition and deck at the rear of the dwelling
having a rear yard of 20 ft. , 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 Zon-
ing Ordinance of the Town of Mamaroneck with
particular reference to Article VI Section
89-34 Subsection B (3) "Construction Require-
ments for an R-7.5 Residential District" which
requires a rear yard of 25 ft. on the premises
located at 25 Lookout Circle and known on the
Tax Assessment Map of the Town of Mamaroneck
as Block 117 Parcel 23; and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley I. Stern have
submitted an application for a variance on
the ground of practical difficulty and/or un-
necessary hardship for the following reasons :
1 . The proposed addition will pro-
vide an extra bedroom and bath to
accommodate Mr. Stern's mother.
2. The addition will maintain the
continuity of the street without
violating the front of the house.
WHEREAS, this Board has examined the plans,
reviewed the application and has heard all per-
sons interested in this application after pub-
lication of a notice thereof,
WHEREAS, this Board has requested the applicant
amend the plan to show at the rear of the pro-
posed addition a window unit with the window
sill at least 18" above the finished floor in-
stead of a sliding door,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that this Board granted the applica-
tion on the following grounds :
(a) That there are special circumstances
and conditions applying to the land
and/or building for which a variance
is sought, which circumstances and/
or conditions have not resulted from
any acts of the applicant subsequent
to the date of the Zoning Regulations
appealed from.
(b) That the said circumstances and
conditions are as follows :
6/VC(
1 . That the proposed addi-
tion will increase the non-
conforming rear yard by
only 1 ' 6" .
2. That the proposed addi-
tion will maintain the exist-
ing side property setback
and the distance separation
between dwellings will remain
at approximately 28 feet.
3. That the 2 2 story addi-
tion will conform to the
height restrictions of the
Zoning Ordinance.
(c) That the granting of this vari-
ance will be in harmony with the gen-
eral purposes and intent of this Ordi-
nance and will not be injurious to
the neighborhood or otherwise detri-
mental to the public welfare; and it
is
FURTHER RESOLVED, that a variance is hereby
granted to the applicant and that Article VI
Section 89-34 Subsection B (3) "Construction
Requirements for an R-7.5 Residential District"
so as to allow the construction of a two story
addition and deck at the rear of the dwelling
having a rear yard of 20 ft. on the premises
located at 25 Lookout Circle and known on the
Tax Assessment Map of the Town of Mamaroneck
as Block 117 Parcel 23 in strict conformance
with the plans filed with this application and
amended provided 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
construction 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 meet-
ing it was adjourned at 9:15 P.
,.._I
Rifa A. Johnson, Secretary
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