HomeMy WebLinkAbout1968_05_22 Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK HELD MAY 22, 1968, IN THE COURT ROOM
OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK POLICE STATION, 11 EDGEWOOD AVENUE,
TOWN OF MAMARONECK.
CALL TO ORDER
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:15 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mr. Richard F. Eggers, Chairman
Mr. E. Robert Wassman
Mr. Henry Mullick
Mr. Price H. Topping
Mr. Russell G. Pelton
Also present: Mr. William Paonessa, Building Inspector
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of April 25, 1968 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 requested the Secretary to read the
first application.
APPLICATION NO. 1 - CASE 286
Application of Hampshire Country Club, Inc. for mod-
ification of Article IV, Section 421.4 Walls and
Fences of the Zoning Ordinance which restricts heights
of fences to 4 feet so as to allow the erection of
2000 lin. ft. of 8 ft. high chain link fence along
the northerly and westerly boundary line on the pre-
mises located at Hommocks Road and known on the Tax
Assessment Map of the Town of Mamaroneck as Block
414 Parcel 1 on the grounds of practical difficulty
and/or unnecessary hardship.
Mr. Peter D'Angelo, General Manager of the Club and
Mr. Sol G. Feldman, a member of the Club's Board
of Directors represented the application.
Mr. D'Angelo stated that the Club was applying for
a variance to erect an 8' fence because when the
new school is completed the fence will not only pro-
tect the Club from vandalism but also prevent injury
to any trespassers by golf balls. The applicant,
also, stated that the fence would afford privacy
and tranquility for the Club members.
Mr. Walter T. Clark, an Attorney of 271 North Avenue,
New Rochelle, representing Dr. and Mrs. Benford of
45 Hommocks Road stated that his clients felt they
were unable to either approve or disapprove the ap-
plication because the applicants only give "approxi-
mates". Mr. D'Angelo pointed out that the fence
in front of the Benford's would be hidden behind
high bushes.
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Keiser of 22 Rock Ridge Road stated
that there was a drainage ditch which was on the
boundary line of their property and the Club property
and they were concerned as to whether the drainage
ditch would be in front or behind the fence. Mr.
D'Angelo stated that the ditch would not be fenced
in. Mr. and Mrs. Keiser expressed concern over the
maintenance of the drainage ditch and stated that
if the ditch becomes clogged it would affect their
property and adjacent properties. Mr. D'Angelo
stated that the Club would install a gate in order
to maintain the ditch.
After further discussion the Board suggested to
Mr. D'Angelo that he postpone his application till
the next meeting of June 26, 1968 and the applicant
was asked to bring in more detailed plans. The ap-
plication will be published in the Daily Times but
the adjoining property owners will not have to be
notified again.
The Chairman called a short recess and when the Board
returned the Chairman requested the Secretary to
read the next application.
APPLICATION NO. 2 - CASE 287
Application of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Albert for modi-
fication of Article IV Section 410 Schedule of Resi-
dence District Regulations for an R-6 Residential
District of the Zoning Ordinance so as to allow the
construction of a one family dwelling on a lot having
an area of 5720 square feet instead of the required
6000 square feet and a street line frontage of 58
feet instead of the required 60 feet on the premises
located at 17 Edgewood Avenue and known on the Tax
Assessment Map of the Town of Mamaroneck as Block
123 part of Parcel 179 on the grounds of practical
difficulty and/or unnecessary hardship.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Albert of the Larchmont Acres
Apartments were represented by Mr. Anthony F. Vitetta,
an Attorney, of 444 East Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck.
® Mr. Vitetta stated that the application was for an
"area" variance as the lot in question is 280 square
feet short of the required 6000 square feet. In
order to maintain the required side yards the front-
age is limited to 58 feet instead of the required
60 feet. Adjacent properties are such that the ap-
plicant cannot secure additional frontage or area.
The property in question was purchased by Mr. Mancini
from the Town of Mamaroneck and at Mr. Mancini's death
the property was inherited by his wife. Mrs. Mancini
now wants to turn this piece of property over to her
daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Albert. The
Alberts are desirous of erecting a house on the lot
for their own use but the lot is a difficult lot to
build on because of its topography.
Mr. Vitetta presented a petition signed by neighbors
approving the application. It was pointed out that
the majority of the homes in the area are all on 50
foot lots and there are only a few homes with larger
frontages. It was, also, pointed out that at the
time title was taken to the lot in 1951 it was a con-
forming lot and that Mr. Mancini at that time could
have built a house on the lot.
The Chairman asked if there was any opposition to
this application and the Secretary presented two peti-
tions that had been given to her just before the meet-
ing by Mr. Wayne Soverns of 21 Edgewood Avenue.
One petition was signed by Mr. and Mrs. Soverns and
the other by several neighbors. Mrs. Louise Soverns
presented her objections to the application and stated
that the privacy of her property would be destroyed
if a two story house were to be erected on the sub-
standard strip next to her property. Mrs. Soverns
stated that the beautiful old elm tree on the lot
would have to be destroyed and that the resale value
of her house would be depreciated. Mrs. Soverns,
also, pointed out that five properties in a row on
the south side of Edgewood Avenue all have frontages
of 75' or over and that by creating a substandard
building lot the area would be downgraded.
After further discussion the Chairman asked if there
was anybody in the Court room who would like to say
anything further. Mr. Don Rumbarger of 16 Edgewood
Avenue stated he approved of the application and that
he had heard Mr. Mancini say several times that he
thought he would build on the lot in question. Mrs.
Jane Widmark of 14 Edgewood Avenue and Mr. and Mrs.
John Pugliese of 62 Myrtle Blvd. both approved the
application and agreed that the lot would be consider-
ably improved.
The Chairman called a short recess to discuss the
application after which a vote was taken and the re-
sult was as follows:
® Commissioner Eggers - Aye
Commissioner Wassman - Nay
Commissioner Mullick - Aye
Commissioner Topping - Nay
Commissioner Pelton - Aye
The application was therefore granted and the fol-
lowing Resolution duly adopted:
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Albert have
submitted an application to the Building
Inspector for a building permit for the
construction of a one family 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 Article
IV, Section 410 Schedule of Residence Dis-
trict Regulations for an R-6 Residential
District of the Zoning Ordinance which
provides for a lot area of 6000 square
feet and a street line frontage of 60 feet
on the premises located at 17 Edgewood
Avenue and known on the Tax Assessment
Map of the Town of Mamaroneck as Block
123 part of Parcel 179, and
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Albert have
submitted to this Board an application
on the ground of practical difficulty and/
or unnecessary hardship for the following
reason:
To allow the construction of
a one family dwelling on a lot
having an area of 5720 square
feet instead of the required
6000 square feet and a street
line frontage of 58 feet instead
of the required 60 feet.
WHEREAS, this Board has examined the plans
and has heard all persons interested in
this application after publication of a
notice thereof,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that this Board granted the ap-
plication on the following grounds:
(a) That there are special cir-
cumstances and conditions apply-
ing to the land/or building for
which a variance is sought, which
circumstances and/or conditions
are peculiar to such land and/or
buildings in the district, and
which circumstances and condi-
tions have not resulted from
qr,r-
any acts of the applicant sub-
sequent to the date of the Zoning
Regulations appealed from.
(b) That the aforesaid circum-
stances and/or conditions are
as follows:
1. That the former
owner, Mr. Mancini,
had purchased the pro-
perty in 1951 at which
time a one family dwell-
ing could have been
constructed on a 50'
x 100' parcel.
2. That the former
owner and applicant
had separated the par-
cel in such a manner
to gain the fullest
conformity with the
existing Zoning Ordi-
nance.
3. That the proposed
410building lot contains
only 4% less than the
required area in a
zone where most of
the dwellings were
constructed on lots
containing 5000 square
feet.
4. That the proposed
dwelling would meet
all other area require-
ments.
5. That said circum-
stances or conditions
are such that the par-
ticular application
of the Ordinance with
respect to Article IV,
Section 410 would de-
prive the applicant
of the reasonable use
of such land and/or
building and that for
these reasons the grant-
ing of the variance
is necessary for the
reasonable use of the
land and/or building
and that the variance
as granted by this
Board is the minimum
adjustment that will
accomplish this purpose.
(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 be varied and modified so
as to allow the construction of a one fam-
ilydwelling on a lot having 5720 square
feet and a street line frontage of 58 feet
on the premises located at 17 Edgewood
Avenue and known on the Tax Assessment
Map of the Town of Mamaroneck as Block
123 part of Parcel 179, in strict confor-
mance with the plans filed with this ap-
plication 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
Board 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. A build-
ing permit shall be void if construction
is not started within six months and com-
pleted 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 10:10 p.m.
' Rita A. John , Secretary
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