WEBSTER ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MINUTES
Webster Town Board Meeting Building 1002 Ridge Road
November 19, 2024
7:00 pm
ABSENT:
Michael Short
Corrine Volo
Donald Hauza
Dan Lagoner
Chris Centola
James Spampinato (alternate)
John DeMarco, Attorney
Katherine Kolich, Recording Secretary
Josh Artuso, Director of Community Development
Erika Corsi, Junior Planner of Community Development
Good evening and welcome to the Zoning Board Appeals meeting for December
10, 2024. We do have proof of publication in the Webster Herald.
Pledge of Allegiance , Call Roll
Summary of Application Outcomes
TABLED MATTERS
:
671 WILLOW LANE/ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
Bryan Bishoping
DENIED
WILLOWPOINT WAY/WATERVIEW APARTMENTS PHASE 3
Legacy Development Co.
APPROVED W/ CONDITIONS:
e The building facing Nautical Mile Drive to have an 18.7’ front setback.
e The building facing McEwen Drive shail be shifted south by 2ft, and driveway shall
be moved south by 5ft. to create a 5’ district buffer and front setback to building of
43.8
e Western 10-unit building fronting Willow Point Way to have a front setback of 38.5
ft and district buffer area of 38.5 ft.
e Increase total vegetation in buffer zone and work with Town to provide buffering
in McEwen Road Right of Way.
SEQR -
TYPE 2 ACTION - NEG. DEC.
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1093 SHARON COURT/GARAGE
Dale Weiss
APPLICATION TABLED TO DECEMBER 10TH MEETING
SCHEDULED MATTERS
:
430 WHITING ROAD/ SINGLE FAMILY
Austin Goodwin
APPROVED 30’ FRONT SETBACK AS PRESENTED
867 MEADOW RIDGE LANE/HOUSE ADDITION
Chad Willardson
APPROVED 30’ FRONT SETBACK AS PRESENTED
(Corrine Volo read the first application)
671 WILLOW LANE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE: Located at 671 Willow Lane. Applicant
Bryan Bishchoping is requesting AREA VARIANCES to allow a side setback less than what is
required and to allow the placement of the accessory structure to be nearer to the front property
line than the rear line of the main residence associated the construction of a 500 SF detached
wood-framed structure on a 0.46-acre parce! having SBL # 065.13-2-11 located in an R-3
Single Family Residential District under Sections 350-12 and 350-36 of the Code of the Town
of Webster.
Good evening, Bryan, how are you. I want to present the changes that you made
to the board.
Appearing before the board was Bryan Bishoping. Actually, going back to the last meeting the
last thing, we were talking about was a rendering of what things were going to look like so the
packet that I submitted. If we could jump to page 33 (VIEWING ON THE SCREEN)
It is not showing up on these screens. (ALL THE COMPUTERS FOR BOARD
WENT DOWN) Ok, I see the image that we are looking at least so for the board, my pages
don’t have page numbers. (IMAGINE IS SHOWING ON SCREEN) EVERYONE TRYING TO
DETERMINE WHAT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE SCREENS.
So, if you are thumbing through it there is the June 11" presentation and if
you go through all images, then it goes to the rendering and once again, ] am Adam Cummings
and ] am helping out my friend Bryan on this application. I did look at the old minutes, so I want
to apologize for the past for not introducing myself. So, the one on the bottom if. It shows the
porch addition that was discussed at the last meeting as well as the accessory structure. We don’t
have the skill set to overlay them or Photoshop or Illustrator or whatever is used to get it on there
Pg. 285 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
so it’s just a cut out but tried to show both of them and softening them up a bit and matching the
two. The color right now is a light grey because we can’t or doesn’t want to match the 1962
green color so there is a plan if there 1s a budget sometime in the future to eventually change it,
but this is a neutral enough color and it’s not too contrasting to the neighborhood to put that one
in there. So, they kind of blend together. Once again, the rendering down below does not show
all the windows and didn’t get into that level of details, so that is why both images were given to
show that.
So, on the bottom he is not looking to propose to take any windows out. So, if you are looking at
the paper copies and just to clarify that bottom one, other than the porch addition, he is not
looking to make any changes to the main structure of the house of this structure that is just a
rendering that didn’t take...the level of detail to do that needs a license architect to do that type
of detail.
So, out of curiosity and I was not at the October meeting. I did have the
opportunity to listen through the meeting itself, but I was at the meeting prior, and I believe it
was the September meeting when we talked about it, and we talked about softening this up. We
had talked about trying t get this to fit within a residential neighborhood and I am looking at
elevations that were received back in July and I am looking at the rendering and I can’t see the
difference between what was submitted in July and the rendering.
So, the main change was the siding originally was the vertical that you’d see
in more of a commercial building. It’s still metal siding but this ones horizontal to match it. It’s
still the...instead of a 4 inch siding like you'd see on a residential his has the 9 inch so yeah,
these were materials that weren’t allowed to be added at the meeting because we were going to
bring them at the same day, but we are looking to do the wider horizontal orientation of the metal
siding. Light fixtures just didn’t make it on the rendering because but there would be light
fixtures above the doors, but they didn’t make it onto that one.
Are you still maintaining the 20 foot interior height.
Yes. Well, it’s the roof height so he’s maximized his footprint with height and
the square footage of what the town code allows.
Now is the 20 foot to the outside to the top of the peak taller.
So, the roof line the way the town code reads is to the midpoint of that gabled
roof. It’s not the peak.
How tall, physically is the actual tallest point of the building.
It is 21 feet and 4 inches. So, on our original rendering we had it at 23 feet 8
but it was recalculated and it’s going to be 21 feet and 4 inches but once again that is due to the
Pg. 286 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
meeting the town code height of 20 feet measured to the midpoint of that sloping ridge. The
rendering is drawn to scale with the perspective view of what it would look like to each other to
the two builders.
There is no perspective in our packet.
Well, this perspective of what you are looking at here. No, I don’t have a
perspective view from an airplane coming at it this is an aerial.
f am just talking about a perspective.
Yeah, so the perspective is from the road. We don’t have an aerial or an ortho
image perspective.
I understand.
Other questions from the board?
I just have a couple comments. Seems to me, we have been going over this now
for 4 or 5 months, whatever it is, and the board’s been requesting different things every time.
Renderings, samples, suggested height difference, exterior appearance, things like that and we
haven’t always gotten what we’ve been asking for or suggested. Is there some reason for kind of
sidestepping some of our requests.
| don’t know that there’s any side stepping, but I am following town code kind
of what I presented for the...I think it is 43 pages is I’m following the way the town wants me to
do things. I didn’t have to get elevation drawings yet, but I did go our and do that on my own just
to get ready and then I did hand them over and it’s not stuff that’s required at this point for
something that’s less than 20,000 dollars to construct.
But to your point, if it was a code, you wouldn’t be here. You’d have your
building permit, and it would be up. So, you haven’t provided everything that we have asked
because you are the one asking for relief, so we are trying to do our best job in weighing whether
that request merits that relief. So, it’s not like you have done everything that the code asked you
to. You’re asking for relief from some of the code requirements so that’s why we’ve asked for
extra information.
BRYAN BISHOPING SPEAKING AT THE SAMETIME. I DID NOT CATCH WHAT HE
SAID.
There are actually two variances. I would like to fine-tune that one back in. |
appreciate and recognize that the town is trying to impose architectural standards that don’t exist
opinions of what you’d like it to look like, but I would like to point out that this is the Zoning
Pg. 287 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Board of Appeals trying to find the minimum variance required not necessarily a denial or an
acceptance or an approval what you hear about it’s proximity to the back line of the house and
the side lot line. I understand that you’re trying to look at it in terms of the SEQR evaluation
and the area variance part of community character but once again, it’s on the variance and the
town code allows it so. I disagree that its been side stepping for an application that....at the first
meeling was pointed out he’s trying to see if he can get the variance approval to actually do the
project without investing too much time and effort.
Adam, I appreciate that, and I don’t think it’s lost on this board that the variance
is for the location, but this board does have the opportunity to take into consideration the impact
on the neighbor, on the neighborhood itself. Which is why the board has been asking for
softening of the structure to help it fit into a residential neighborhood over the course of multiple
meetings that we’ ve had. So, with that, if there’s any other comments from the board at this point
and if not, ] am going to open it up to the public if there is any public comments. I am opening it
up to public comments and please not that there is a 5 limit minutes on individual comments and
with that, please come up and state your name and address.
Jann Armantrout at 670 Willow Lane: I live directly across the street and have attended
everyone of these meetings but one. I am dismayed that this information that’s being shown right
now was not available on the website as late as today so there was no change for me to make
connnent. [am the person as 1 said, who will be most affected. I have discussed with Mr. Artuso
and several other people that there are certainly things that could as the persona walking out of
her front door everyday make this a possibility of a project certainly the height and the fact that
it looks you know, in the matter you call a spade a spade and that it looks like an extra garage to
me and there is already a commercial equipment around the property on a very routine basis. I
had specifically suggested that the building be rotated so that the garage door entrance would
open to the driveway. I see even that sort of a moderate change that could make a project
workable there's no room for any sort of compromise in this. If we drive the neighborhood and I
believe all of you have, maybe multiple times. Appreciate the amount of work that you have put
into this. That is a commercial looking building in a very residential neighborhood. These
houses are now like 300,000 dollar houses. They’re like the smaller family room, bath and half,
2 and have bath bedrooms; lovely neighborhood, mostly built in the 60's and very early 70's and
we want to preserve it. My fear amongst other things with this sort of thing is that if a person
operating a business out of the home in one instance gets an approval for this building, ever
other tradesman in the neighborhood is going to have or request it before you and before you
know if, the neighborhood looks like older parts of the Village of Webster. I have made my
concerns repeatedly to you guys and I don’t see softening there. Like I said, | don’t see the
building rotated I see a garage, a big garage, a tall garage and I would ask that some other
consideration be given if it’s such an ideal building for the neighborhood put out on the other
side of the house plenty of room there and then Lam not looking at the commercial equipment
plus the garage that has routinely stored on that side of the property and again, I thank you for
the amount of work and time that you folks have given in all this.
Pg. 288 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Thank you. Is there anybody else to speak for or against the project. Any
comments from the public. Ok, with that, will bring it back to the board to any final comments
or questions that the board may have. | am going to recommend that we move forward with a
decision at todays meeting. We have gone through this process multiple times and multiple
iterations. I’m recommending that we move forward with a decision unless anybody here
disagrees.
I, I guess I still have a concern with the height because the building is not located
where the code indicates that the building should be located. I drove that entire neighborhood
from Holt Road to 250 throughout the past weeks and did not see, other than a barn on 250, did
not see another two....it’s in essence a 2-story building without a middle floor a two-story
accessory structure and any of that building development and to me that’s the harshest. Part of it
is because it’s much closer to the road that it typically it would be based on what the accessory
structure codes states. Is there anyway to soften the look of it by reducing the height by 5 feet or
7 feet . 1 know you want to put shelves in but it’s still much more storage than what you have
right now, and it would make it just less big gray wall.
So...first ] want to. One thing that keeps being brough up and I'l! add to it
Bryans part. I have know Bryan for 24 years now since we went to college together and he has
been a licensed electrician that whole time. He does not wholly run his business out of there but
ever since we were teenagers he does as an electrician business, acta as an electrician there. He
does not operate his business out of it. There are times he doesn’t even have a truck that has the
business name on it. There are a lot of other ones that go in, so I just want to point that out. He
is not going to operate a commercial business out of this. The other part, in terms of what board
member Volo just asked about, to point out the way the code is, it is not drawn on here but if it
was placed in the backyard, where it could be to be code compliant, it just shifts it back to !0 or
12 feet back and 7 feet over so the height of it by the code that’s allowed, would only diminish it
by a foot and half in terms of the view that you are seeing there because he does have room in
the back ...weil, it’s not a back corner because he’s a corner lot so he’s got two side yards so he
does have room back there but it’s because of the electric service is why he’s electing to put it
here. So, in terms of the height, while I do appreciate the points, you’re making on that, the code
does allow it to be in that converging of the 2 side lots. In terms of the height impact, while no
other buildings have it, it is possible to put it in there and still receive a building permit. To the
point of Bryan answering the question, of your request to minimize it, which once again is not a
variance request of the height because he is meeting the code, I'll ask him if he’d entertain it.
I am looking to maximize my storage. So, things started off one way and then
when | found out the way I wanted to do it was an accessory structure I looked at the town code
for an accessory structure and this is what I’ve come up with. Location makes sense on the
property, and I think with the metal siding flipped horizontal and the existing metal siding that’s
on the primary structure is 8 inches and the new metal siding is going to be 9 inches, so | think
with the....] believe it’s about 30-32 feet from the existing garage to the side, nearest side of the
accessory structure and you're never going to notice that difference in one inch for the metal
Pg. 289 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
existing south wall of the existing structure that faces Millcreek Run and it has two windows
siding. So, I think it is going to blend right in with the existing structure and you know the
[ other than that it’s 22 2 feet of metal siding.
RESOLUTION 24-0068 Michael Short made a motion to TYPE II SEQR
which was seconded by: Donald Hauza.
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
Now a motion for the variance.
Let me ask the applicant one thing, your neighbor across the street asked that
your garage door be located towards the exiting garage, would you be willing to do that.
With the....the reason the structure is 20 x 25 is so that my boat will fit in. If
the garage door is on the other side, I don’t have enough room to swing the boat. It’s
| (BOTH BOARD MEMBERS AND APPLICANT ARE SPEAKING AT THE SAME TIME)
AUDIENCE MEMBER SPEAKING OUT.
No, public session is done at this point. So, I guess will want to go through the
findings and need to do a motion for the variance. Corrine, ] don’t know if you want to read it
or.....(READ THIS INTO THE RECORD)
671 WILLOW LANE ACCESSORY STRUCTURE: Located at 671 Willow Lane. Applicant
Bryan Bishchoping is requesting AREA VARIANCES to allow a side setback less than what is
required and to allow the placement of the accessory structure to be nearer to the front property
line than the rear line of the main residence associated the construction of a 500 SF detached
wood-framed structure on a 0.46-acre parcel having SBL # 065.13-2-11 located in an R-3
Single Family Residential District under Sections 350-12 and 350-36 of the Code of the Town
of Webster.
Did we determine what those setbacks were?
I believe we have. I am going to have to go back though.
L Pg. 290 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
I found the motion. [ was approved at 5 feet from the north lot line and 43.4 feet
from the front or east lot line.
Does anyone want to run through the findings.
Did you make a motion.
We haven’t done the findings yet. So, the findings that we have to go through
are kind of standard.
(Michael Short)
1. This request is not out of character in the neighborhood: Based on all the conversation that
I have heard from this board over multiple meetings; this request is out of character with
this neighborhood. It is a typical residential neighborhood. Typical siding throughout the
neighborhood. Dormers, the maximum height of structures are typically a two-story
structures and the structure that was presented before this board is a metal sided pole barn
structure; a low sloped roof; no dormers very flat front face and very industrial looking.
These were the materials that were presented to this board over the course of the last 6
months with very little modification made to accommodate to any adjustments. 1 think that
about it.
There will not be a detriment created to nearby properties: Again, from hearing from this
board; there is potential visual impacts to nearby properties.
. The benefit is not achievable by any other method: It is not. The applicant is attempting to
get all his materials and equipment stored inside to meet the requirements of the town code
and one of the only ways of doing that is to provide a structure to be able to put his
equipment and materials inside and build a structure.
This request does meet the town code from a size standpoint
but not from a Jocation standpoint.
There are no adverse physical or environmental impacts to the site or neighborhood: |
would agree with that other than the first two items previously identified out of character
of the neighborhood and detriment created to nearby properties.
And it’s not. At the end of the day the applicant has
equipment he’s acquired over time and needs to be able to store it that. Not a self-created
element.
Mr. Chair, if 1 may, ] believe you do mean that this is a self-created difficulty.
Thank you, yes,
Further, if you could, I think it would be helpful to include some of the facts of the
particular project that you find that results in undesirable change. The board has noted the height
of the structure; the materials that are used having an industrial look ] would suggest that you
would incorporate some of the specific facts into the findings.
Pg. 291 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Ok, thank you. Going back to the character of the neighborhood... ABOVE # |
7. This is not an undesirable change:
8. This request is not significant:
Mr. Chair, if I] understand the board correctly, the request is substantial in so much
as it’s the combination of the size and the materials used coupled with the reducing the setback
from the front road would that be accurate.
That would be accurate.
RESOLUTION 24-0069 Michael Short made a motion to DENY THE
AREA VARIANCE Located at 67! Willow
Lane. Applicant Bryan Bishchoping is requesting
AREA VARIANCES to allow a side setback of 5
feet and a front setback of 43.4 feet associated the
construction of a 500 SF detached wood-framed
structure on a 0.46-acre parce! having SBL #
065.13-2-11 located in an R-3 Single Family
Residential District under Sections 350-12 and
350-36 of the Code of the Town of Webster which
was seconded by: Chris Centola.
Is your motion to approve or deny the application for the area variance Mr. Chair.
The motion is to deny so the response from the
board should be AYE.
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Bryan, unfortunately you have the response from the board. Your application has
been denied for the structure and | believe it is a6 month period before you can come back
before the board, is that right Josh?
One year.
Unless there is substantial changes. Is that correct.
Correct.
Pg. 292 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
I would like to correct that; I believe he can’t come back ever unless there is a
substantial change to the application to the Zoning Board of appeals.
The reference in our code is one year.
Unless there is some meaningful change that would a fresh application.
Okay. Thank you, board, for all your consideration on this and obviously
disappointed with the decision but thank you for all the time and effort.
Appreciate it. Thank you.
(Corrine Volo read the second application)
WATERVIEW APARTMENTS PHASE 3: Located at the northwest corner of Willow Point
Way and Nautical Mile Drive. Applicant Legacy Development Co., Inc is requesting AREA
VARIANCES to allow:
* front setbacks less than what is required
* A district buffer area less than what is required
associated with the construction of (6) buildings plus a community center (total of 56 units),
each 2 stories in height on a proposed 13.15-acre parcel having SBL# 093.06-3-64.11 located in
an MHR Medium High Residential District under Section 350-14 of the Code of the Town of
Webster.
Appearing before the board was Chris Nadler, General Council for Mark IV Enterprises with us
here tonight we have David Cox from Passero our Design Engineer and Chris DeMarzo the
President of Mark IV Enterprises and owner of Legacy Development, the owner of the property
at issue here. As you know, we have gone through several design iterations on this project over
the years. In the 1980's this parcel was for a seven story 158 unit apartment building along with
the approval of phase one which consists of 35 town houses and phase tow which consists of 62
town houses. Earlier this year we proposed to the town two, three story apartment buildings
containing 90 total units. We participated in sketch plan review with the Planning Board, and
we came before the Zoning Board and heard feedback from both boards as well as feedback
from out neighbors and other members of the public. We took that feedback to heart as you can
see and redesigned the project completely. As you see, it’s significant reductions in size, scope,
and number of units but more importantly we are presenting townhouse style apartments so it’s
more in keeping with the character of the neighborhood.
What we are proposing now is 56 townhouse style apartments, each with their own garage and
separate entrances, driveway, a clubhouse, a dog park, and sport court for the use of the
community. This is in keeping with the neighborhood of what’s already there. One thing that
we are proposing as well...does this one show it? This is a new, recent change to the plans.
There will be one single entrance onto McEwen instead of six separate driveways. The building
will remain in the same location, but the driveways will converge into one single entrance.
Pg. 293 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
There will be an extensive landscape buffer between the driveways and McEwen Road to shield
our neighbors and the road and additionally we will be adding four additional parking spots in
front of the clubhouse. Some of the challenges we faced in putting together this plan was that
there were three road frontages surrounding the property and there is utility easements along the
eastern portion of the property coming from McEwen over to the existing townhouses.
We did manage what I think is a really good plan that is in keeping with the neighborhood that
those revisions eliminated two of our variance requests and now we are left with front setback
variances that we are seeking. The largest front setback variance would be 18.7 feet where a 75
ft front setback is required. That is on Maritime Drive. This building here along Maritime
Drive, it’s important to remember that from the building to the property line is 18.7 feet that’s
an 18.7 ft foot setback from the property line but from the property line to the road there is
another 17.5 ft so the total distance from the building to the road is 36.2 feet. Most of the
buildings in phase | and phase 2 have between 30 and 40 foot driveways setbacks from the
building to the road. Some of the town houses in phase | and phase 2 do have as little as 27 ft
from the townhouse to the road. So, what we are proposing is definitely in keeping with he
character of the neighborhood. If we didn’t have these....if the board didn’t grant the variance,
we would have [00 ft long driveways, 70 ft back from the property line and another 25 ft to the
road, That would be substantially more pavement and substantially less green space.
Josh, can you put the overhead, the aerial with the arrows on it. As you can see from this map,
we’re also requesting district buffer setback from an MHR multi-family residential zoning
district to aresidential zoning district. It is a 38.5 ft setback where a 100 ft district setback
buffer is required. Similarly to the driveway setbacks we have an additional 22 feet between the
border between the two zoning districts which is the property boundary and McEwen Drive
which is 22 ft away so our buildings to McEwen is 58.5 ft and the single family homes on
McEwen are across the street facing the front of the townhouse building. The distance from the
building from our building to the McEwen houses is at least 152 ft away. There is 152 ft
between the proposed building and the existing homes on McEwen. Again, there will be a
landscape buffer between the homes and the proposed building. The distance between the
existing townhouses in phase ! and phase 2 and houses along McEwen is as little as 66 ft
between buildings and we are proposing 152 ft between buildings and what is already there in
the neighborhood is 66 feet, so it is definitely in keeping with the neighborhood.
We met with the Planning Board for another sketch plan review to go over the proposed plan
last week and they received it favorably. I understand at least some of them have indicated that
to you in correspondence and we’ re looking forward to coming back with them next month for
site plan approval. Our...you know we went back and designed something that’s in keeping
with the neighborhood and | think that the variance requests are absolutely reasonable. David
and J are here to answer any questions the board may have.
I want to say thank you for hearing our comments and making adjustments
accordingly. I’m struggling seeing that graphic and that graphic is we don’t have that graphic
Pg. 294 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
and our screens are not working so if you have a copies, | would greatly appreciate that.
(APPLICANT HANDS OUT PLANS TO BOARD MEMBERS) you indicated that significant
planting of vegetation along McEwen Drive, if I am reading this plan correctly those plantings
are happening outside of your property line is....am I reading this correctly.
Yes, that is correct, and we'll work with the town to allow that in the right of
way.
What kind of vegetation would you be anticipating.
Mostly street trees.
Mostly street trees is the answer.
You believe that 10 street trees is an adequate landscape buffer.
I think given the distances here, given the fact that these are townhouse style
apartment buildings that have individual garages, individual entrances, that’s how streets are
created is you know, tow residential structures facing each other . Here we actually have a lot
more distance between the house on McEwen and the one building that faces McEwen.
But your idea of substantial landscape buffer is 10 trees then, right.
And there is foundation plantings as well.
Well, that’s not in the buffer. I am just trying to make sure that I understand
what you’re presenting.
] am not familiar with what a street tree is so if you explain that to me. I
apologize.
Yes, so sweet sunset maple tree; honey locust; black gum; and then we have robin
hill serviceberry; raising sun redwood; fringe tree; real star...
So, all trees that are going to lose their leaves in the winter time. It sounds like
if Pm not...............
Actually, they’re all deciduous material and the vast majority of them are
actually large shrubs not really. They legally are called trees but they’re more shrub like in size
and appearance.
Ok, what is the overall general height, the max height that this vegetation grows.
Pg. 295 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
So obviously the maple is 35 — 40 ft tall; honey locust 30 — 50 ft; black gum 30 — 50
ft and then the serviceberry 20 — 25 ft; the redwood is 8 — 12 ft; fringe tree is 18 ~ 20; and the
star magnolia is 10 — 15 ft and the egg recort Hlac is 8 -10 ft.
Thank you , I appreciate that. Other comments from the board.
So, with...just to make sure that I understand, with the revised driveway of the
building that is closest to McEwen or the one that faces McEwen that 38 feet distance remains
the same. There is no change other than I’m just consolidating the driveways.
That’s correct.
Are there any other comments from the board at this point.
The required buffer is 100 ft.
Correct
And the proposed setbacks to the buildings to McEwen
Is it 38 feet. Am I reading that correctly.
41.8, I believe.
41.8 is what you are seeing.
No, there’s a 38.5 and then a
41. Chris Nadler: The building facing McEwen will be
41. David Cox: The one to the left of the screen is 38.5.
I gotcha. So, the side of the building to the left going to be at 38 feet, 38.5 feet
Yes
That building by the way faces the pump house. You can’t see it on this map but
that’s directly across from the pump house.
Understood.
Pg. 296 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Just so I understand, a buffer between districts, does that have to be green space
without anything in it OR am I treating it like a setback because I had assumed that buffer was
greenspace.
That’s correct.
So, really, we don’t have...
So, it does not include ingress and egress.
The buffer does not include ingress and egress.
It allows ingress and egress, but the road cannot run parallel with the buffer.
(NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE MIC, CAN HARDLY HEAR) if can run thought the
perpendicular.
So, the unit that is facing McEwen you have a road that is running parallel to
the buffer. So, the buffer would start at the edge of the drive once it starts to run parallel so
with the previous plan.
So, the previous plan where the driveways ran individually McEwen that was
permitted but having a single ingress egress on McEwen now changes the dimension technically
to the buffer.
That’s correct. It’s a balancing act,
Ok, I just want .........
Don, just for clarification, why that change that? Because it’s still ingress egress.
Donald Hauza. lt does but it occupies more space of the buffer so eliminates any type of
screening that...potential screening that may be needed.
Well, I just want to make the board aware that this particular change of
consolidating the driveways was made at the Planning Board’s request as well as the Highway
Superintendent who wants to limit the number of curb cuts to the public road.
Thank you.
Actually, I think it works much better than the August submission than the two
big block buildings. This is far above a much easier and more palatable design, and I think it'll
work better. I think when your going down the Street it’ll look nicer and more in character with
the surrounding neighborhood.
Pg. 297 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
With that, I am going to open it up for public comment. It is a total of 5
minutes per individual so.
David Geier at 400 McEwen Dr: The south east o my property is right at the cure where the
road comes in by the pumping station and I did see if I’m correct that you’ ve redesigned the
road, so it doesn’t go across my property which I appreciate. Is there supposed to be a buffer
between my property and a private road. I don’t know the town code for that.
] don’t know that answer to that, but we can look it up.
So, if the snow plowing it would plow onto my property not that I use that as my
driveway, but it is literally going onto my property, so I don’t know if that’s an again to be
considered further redesigned to push that road further away from the southeast corner of our
property.
You are on the north side of McEwen is that correct.
I am
Unfortunately, I cannot see that screen.
So, where the road curves in I am right along that property line there. Is there some
where I can point so yes this is my property line here.
Ok, that is your spot there. Okay, thank you.
So, Lam not sure if there is a way to redesign also, | am not excited about the hook
of the road coming into McEwen. Concerned about cars just whipping around that corner and
not slowing down or stopping and that does go against the Department of Transportation
reconunendations for roads coming in perpendicular to another road. So, not excited about
that. That corner and that curve I’m also a little concerned about the fact that we're only using
32% of this property and 4.2 acres and we are cramming 56 units onto that or 13.4 units per
acre. | understand why they are doing that, but I think that is trying skirting the way we're
trying to get around medium high res property so that we are putting a lot of units in a very
small place on that property. I don’t see a community need or a hardship by the developer
need to do that other than they want more units on that property. There are way, in my opinion,
they could redesign this property it maybe a few, fewer units not opposed to the development |
am opposed to doing things that are against the code. We really, in my opinion, should be
following the code as much as possible. Thank you.
Anybody else.
Pg. 298 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Charlie and I were here previously (DID NOT SIGN IN). [am at 440 McEwen. First off, this
new design is better l will admit that. We are still concerned with the same questions that you
have in terms of the buffer, right. If's it’s not going to be as big as it should be or as long as it
should be, it should be more significant. There is no other MHR in the Town of Webster that
will have this small of a buffer between an R3 in our case or an MAR district. Almost all of
them have significant whether it’s vegetation, tree, shrubs, these are a lot bigger than what they
actually proposed right now. So, if we are asking for a variance or if they’re asking for a
variance in that buffer, lam asking the town to consider making that buffer a lot more
significant than what they are currently proposing. I also went down a black hole in terms of
cluster development. I kind of understand the need to develop these properties in the most
suitable part of the property and what I don’t understand, and I don’t know if you can answer
this, it is very similar to what Dave was saying earlier. How...the calculation in terms of the
area relative to the number of dwellings that is allowed in a cluster development. I was trying
to do the math myself | couldn't quite figure it out. I don’t know if that is something you can
answer right here today but it is definitely something I want you all to consider.
I do appreciate the question. The calculation is based off the total size of the lot so
there are two lots being combined which totals I believe Mr. Nadler, was it 12-13 acres.
12.5-13 acres
So, when calculating it you look at the total size of it , the lot.
Ok.
But your questions would be great for the Planning Board, and they could
certainly speak to any concerns you might have about that.
Ok, thank you.
Just to note, this is not a cluster development it’s MHR.
Any else with comments from the public. No, ok, I will turn it back over to the
board. Any other questions from the board at this point.
Iam sure it’s more purvey of the Planning Board but because it is a district
buffer I think there should be more plan material to buffer not that the proposed buildings are
not going to be really, really attractive I believe that but as a district buffer ] think, especially
since you're doing it in the right of way and not on the property itself and you basically have a
parallel road going there. I think it would make a much better plan if there was some more
plant material in there and not just necessarily trees but a mixture of both size and types.
Deciduous and evergreen along with shrubs and trees as well. Once again, I don’t know if that
Pg. 299 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
is more of a Planning board thing, but I believe it goes to the character which then brings it
back to us for saying that but just my opinion.
(NOT SPEAKING LOUD ENOUGH) I agree with you and take it a step
further. The buffers were meant to protect any residences outside of the project limit. The
project limit unfortunately is the property line which is the right way to McEwen. I personally
think there should be more green space from that project limit to the project itself. This way it
protects the single family homes on McEwen and also protects the town house within the
community.
I agree, but since it is short that green space is shortened especially with the
parallel road, I would like to see that small little area right of way really over...almost
overplanted to make up for that lack of distance.
Well as it stands right now, at that driveway it is at a zero buffer ...
So, if I may, Chris Marzo just came up to me during the public hearing portion
and said, we are absolutely going to put pine trees or evergreen trees in there. We can
absolutely beef that buffer up including in the lawn between the driveways if that is what the
Planning Board or this board would like. Usually, the way we select is through the Planning
Board process with input from our neighbors. They’re the ones who are going to wind up
looking at it, but we can absolutely beef that up. I think we probably were going to anyway.
With the new design, the unit that is on McEwen is there....what was the
purpose for its distance off of the property line vs moving further south.
J think elimination of unnecessary pavement ts a large part of that. We can have
100 foot long driveways...
Iam not talking about a 100 foot but to everyone’s comments here, the drive
road I’m going to call it, the heart, the one that is parallel to the property line . If we were to
take that building and move it back 15 feet, you’re adding 15 feet of a perpendicular driveway.
That is what your adding right, we’re not talking about adding significant to all the other
properties or whatnot. You are getting closer to the bio retention pond; you are making the
fields in the backside smaller right in that a little bit smaller. Again, I don’t know what the
distances are but if it was to move back 15 ft that give the ability to provide more buffer,
staggered buffer vs you have a row of trees that are next to each other you end up a single row
of trees doesn’t really provide a great deal of buffer but if you are able to provide a stagger row
of trees it provide a much better level of buffering.
Plus moving it would...what do you want to call the access road or that roadway
it gets it out of the easement which once again if it gets plowed up, they can tear it up and say,
have fun putting your driveway back in.
Pg. 300 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Is that something you would consider.
So, I think it eats up usable green space to add, not unnecessary but irrelevant
green space. There’s not going to be ...you’re not going to be able to perceive a difference. It’s
important to remember...Josh, could you put up the overhead, the aerial with arrows on it. It’s
important to remember that our buffer, where we are measuring from is our property line and
then what’s after that is some space between our property line and McEwen Drive and then
there’s McEwen Drive and then there’s a bunch of front yards and then 160 feet away, are
single family residential houses. Generally, the residential district buffer requirement is when
you're putting an apartment building in the backyard of single family residential. The backyard
is where the activity of home is focused not the front yard so putting an apartment complex
even right on the boarder impacts that home. We have 160 ft to what’s in peoples garages and
then a little bit more to where their foyers and living rooms and dining rooms usually are ina
single family home. So, were not....[ don’t think there’s a ton of space to add...to move that
building back.
Mr. Nadler, the Planning Board ask you to incorporated the community center and
those courts was that a request from that board.
Yes, and that is fundamental to the plan. We have an existing complex here and |
think itll really make this a great project.
(NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE MIC) The building that enters McEwen
Drive, as far as access. What if you flip that and utilize the access point to the clubhouse for that
building.
So, you know and we obviously we looked at that. That was my initial idea but
I'ma lawyer not and engineer. It does not work that way. The project isn’t feasible that way.
There’s about 9 ft of elevation (EVER YONE SPEAKING AT THE SAME TIME) And then
you have people on McEwen looking at our backyards not the front of the house like a
residential street like the design should be.
(NOT CLOSE ENOUGH THE MIC) actually a town house doesn’t really have
to have a back yard if you know what I mean. It’s like a single family’s
Any other comments. I am going to go back to my question before because I
didn’t hear an answer to it. Would you consider or is there am ability to slide the building
facing McEwen and back a number of feet you know. J. am looking at; | see where they are
about 15 feet from the retaining wall. The retaining wall is about 8 feet from the corner of the
pickle bail court, so I don’t know, we’re 35 feet plus or minus from the corner of the pickle ball
fencing is what I am reading there.
Pg. 301 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
I don’t think that is visible from there. I mean we could do a foot or two with...
mean, there is a backyard to these townhouses, and you don’t want to destroy that or impede on
the sport court, or the clubhouse and I don’t think we can go back a foot or two, but I don’t
think it will be perceptible.
I could also probably shift the parallel driveway. I can shift that a few feet too so
we could probably get to a 5 foot. You know moving the building a couple feet shifting the
driveway a few feet and get at least 5 more feet there.
That just....just my thoughts, that would be helpful because understanding that
the parallel driveway was a request by the town but that does technically put you a zero foot as
a buffer which I understand that there is greenspace on it on the other property that can be
vegetated to block it a little bit, but 1 think if you could make it a little bit deeper. It’s still going
to be a significant change from what is there now, but it will be a little less harsh with more
plantings and more depth of plantings.
Ok.
J think either way they will be planting in the right of way even if they...that
because you’re not going to take that extra couple feet if the move their ... SOMEONE ELSE
SPEAKING
We can absolutely do that.
Well and maybe that helps get, no never mind. That helps get you out of the
easement a little bit as well.
Well, for the driveway absolutely but the driveway I think for the plant material
you wouldn’t want to. It’s been...my experience that I generally won’t plan-specify anything in
an easement because tree roots tend to do what they do, and it could be detrimental to any type
of utility.
Ok, any other comments from the board.
Does any one have concerns with the front setback at 18 feet.
It’s within the complex, I really don’t care. It’s a private road.
And its...there’s more townhomes beyond this parcel that is very similar to that.
Like I said, it’s a private road. The buffer concerns me I don’t want to establish
a precedent. People say you don’t establish a precedent each application stands on their own
merit, but it concerns me. It could establish a precedent. This phase came in | think I believe it
Pg. 302 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
was like 3 acres or 2.5 so they combined lots to get around the density issue. God Bless you.
What’s to prevent them from splitting their land off again. That concerns me also .
Well, the Planning Board.
The Planning Board can impose a condition to prevent a future...
Well, 1 would think that the Zoning Board could also.
I would at least thing the Zoning Board would make that recommendation. I am
assuming that this will be the end of the development for this property and even know there’s
acreage that’s undeveloped at this point and time as part of this 12 acre parcel you are not
planning any additional development the acreage
That’s absolutely correct. This is the end of the development. This is the end of
the plan from the 1980's and this is the end of owners plan on development.
And the plan is to not subdivide the property and then sell off the property or
another developer to come and then this is the parcel.
Absolutely, that is not our intent. The open space sloping down to the bay is
integral to not only to this project but our current 62 town houses that we rent. It would be a
devastating blow to lose that . We also couldn’t subdivide below 5 acres because then we
would be out of compliance with town code and would need a variance. So, I get we could, but
we'd need the Planning Board and the Zoning Board to approve it again that’s not...in the plan.
Alright, is there any other comments or questions.
Mr. Nadler, you said, in regard to the buffer the distance from the road to those
other single family residences, what is that distance there.
The distance from our building to the closest McEwen house is 153 feet.
Ok.
Again, there’s houses in phases one and two that are 60 feet away between
buildings.
Alright, there are not questions from the board.
Pg. 303 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
;
RESOLUTION 24-0070 Michael Short made a motion to TYPE II SEQR
which was seconded by: Dan Lagoner
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
Michael Short
l.
a
7.
8. This request is not out of character in the neighborhood: This request is not out of character
with the neighborhood. The applicant has really made an effort from the initial submission
to the current submission to ensure that the project is within the character of the
neighborhood itself both within the current property as well as adjacent properties there.
There will not be a detriment created to nearby properties: At the end of the day the
applicant has agreed to additional 5 foot setback more than what was previously proposed
as well as buffer plantings to minimize and eliminate any visual impact to any of the nearby
properties.
The benefit is not achievable by any other method: Due to the slope of the property all the
way to the bay as well as the immediate area. This is a large project; it is a substantial
project for the area.
It is substantial
There are no adverse physical or environmental impacts to the site or neighborhood: There
are none especially with the buffers being put in place and the 51.8...the document that I
have adding 5 feet to that 56.8 feet from nearby structures themselves.
It is not. This is the property; that is the natural slopes
that are there.
This is not an undesirable change: This is a desirable change to the area from the fields that
are there.
This request is not significant:
RESOLUTION 24-0071 Michael Short made a motion to APPROVE THE
AREA VARIANCE WATERVIEW
APARTMENTS PHASE 3: Located at the
northwest corner of Willow Point Way and Nautical
Mile Drive. Applicant Legacy Development Co.,
Inc is requesting AREA VARIANCES to allow:
* front setbacks of 18.7 where the code
requires 75 feet.
associated with the construction of (6) buildings
plus a community center (total of 56 units), each 2
Pg. 304 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
stories in height on a proposed 13.15-acre parcel
having SBL# 093.06-3-64.11 located in an MHR
Medium High Residential District under Section
350-14 of the Code of the Town of Webster which
was seconded by: Corrine Volo.
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
Can we vote on each one separately.
Yes
Is there a building number on that?
No, it would just be the one facing Maritime or...NOT SPEAKING INTO THE
MIC)
So, one correction, the one facing McEwen is moving down but the one that’s kind
of perpendicular on the left side of the screen, t hat one is not changing that one’s
38. Corrine Volo: So can we do a dual buffer, from the west more 10 unit building have a buffer of
the 38.5 feet and the building facing McEwen have a5 foot buffer to that connected drive.
Can I recommend that you grant the variance 38 foot buffer setback with
conditions that the building move. I think that would comply with public notices with a
condition that we move the building back .
As it sits right now, that access driveways at the zero buffer so we moving the
OX-AriVEWAY... eee eee EVERYONE TALKING OVER
Because I am assuming that the drive....everything with that in that building will
shift south 5 feet so the building and the access road.
No, the building was shifting 2 feet, and the driveway was shifting 3 feet so the
driveways 5 but the building is only shifting
2. Pg. 305 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Michae! Short: So back to what Corrine was saying earlier, and I think I got you is that the
western most building have a buffer of 38 feet. The building facing McEwen...
It would be 43 feet......
No, it would be 5 feet to the drive road is what it ends up being.
APPLICANTS HAVING A DISCUSSION
And I can do acondition of moving and I think you said moving the building 2
feet and moving the driveway 3 feet.
Well, the driveway would move 5 because of ......
Yeah, sorry yes but it would be 2-3 feet closer to build
TALKING OVER
bee ee eee EVERYONE
That building is still going to be further from McEwen than the westward 10 unit
building..........
Can we also add condition of additional landscaping or landscape materials of
both sizes.
EVERYONE TALKING AT ONE TIME
RESOLUTION 24-0071 Michael Short made a motion to APPROVE THE
AREA VARIANCE WATERVIEW
APARTMENTS PHASE 3: Located at the
northwest corner of Willow Point Way and Nautical
Mile Drive. Applicant Legacy Development Co.,
Inc is requesting AREA VARIANCES to allow:
* A western most 10 unit town home to have a
a single family district buffer variance of 38
feet from the property line and the 10 unit
building facing McEwen to have a 5 foot
buffer to the drive and to maintain a 43.8 feet
buffer or distance to the property line
associated with the construction of (6)
buildings plus a community center (total of
56 units), each 2 stories in height on a
proposed 13.15-acre parcel having SBL#
093.06-3-64.11 located in an MHR Medium
High Residential District under Section 350-
Pg. 306 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
14 of the Code of the Town of Webster
which was seconded by: Chris Centola
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza NAY
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
CONDITIONS:
e The applicant must obtain all necessary governmental permits, including a Town
Building Permit.
e That one-year significant construction shall expire November 19, 2025.
e Buffer landscaping to be provided both in the buffer zone on your property as well
as work with the town to provide buffering in the town property as well.
You know have 2 variances one for the front setback and one for the buffer
setback with the conditions of additional buffer vegetation as well as moving the building back 2
feet and moving the horizontal or the drive road back 5 feet.
(Corrine Volo read the third application)
Located at 1093 Sharon Court. Applicant Dale
Weiss is requesting an AREA VARIANCE to allow for construction of a ready
made garage to be placed closer to the front property line than the rear line of the
main building on a 0.55-acre parcel having SBL# 079.18-1-40 located in an R-3
Single Family Residential District under Sections 350-12 and 350-36 of the Code of
the Town of Webster.
Appearing before the board was Dale Weiss and Lisa Weiss at 1093 Sharon Court.
The applicant was here at the October meeting for a side setback, but it was not
noticed for the building being in front of the rear line of the house. So, we just needed to
readvertise it so that variance could be correct.
| am going to ask a question, the property lot size based on the information |
have is 21,780 sf based on the deck, pool house, car, shed and then the new structure. 1 believe
we are going to exceed 20 percent of lot coverage as well.
[ have not verified that but that would mean we would have to re-advertise it.
I know, and I am sorry to do that as I was calculating the number at 4:00 today
and that is when I noticed it.
Pg. 307 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Can you explain that please.
So, town code requires within, I think this is an R-3 District, it’s 20 % I believe
is what I recall. Maximum lot coverage so if you have, you know, I think you’re a half-acre
plot of land that’s 21, 780 sf and 20% of that is 4,000 and change. That is calculated based on
structures on the property which includes the deck , deck wrap around porch, the pool, the
house, the shed, and then the new structure as well would be the ones that would come up and
when I did my math and I don’t know what your specs, the actual property size is if it’s truly a
straight half acre or it’s .6 of an acre or if it’s .4 of an acre. So, I didn’t have all the figures, I
was over by about 700 sf when I was doing my quick calculations. It would be another variance
that you would also need on top of the side variance; the front variance; and then lot size
variance as well.
If we lost the other shed would that make a difference.
It would, [ couldn’t. Again, I did not bring my calculation with me . I think the
shed was about 110 square feet +/- . I was not out on your property with a tape measure so I
was doing the best I could with the information that I had. The house, pool, and deck I have at
about 4700 sf and then the new structure itself. You had the size on here and it was like 14 x
20 or something like that. That was another several hundred square feet allowable based on
what I was calculating was 4356 and the house and pool without the shed was already at 4700.
Again, without me having actual numbers, I apologize.
The lot is .55
Sorry, 1 am trying to do some quick calculations. So, that puts you about 4800
sf which would be the house, the pool and the shed. If you loose the shed, yes, you would be
able to put another 100 sf shed back up, but you would still be at the max. Again, my
calculations were based off of Google Earth measurements. They were not my physically out
there measuring it so.
Ok, so what do we need to do.
Come back next month.
Come back in another month. Do we have to fill out another variance form.
No, we will take care of that. We will calculate the actual dimensions and then we
will advertise this along with what you were here tonight okay.
So, you are saying that the structure we want to pul on add too much to the total
for the lot size. Is that ....1’m sorry, fam having trouble hearing you.
Pg. 308 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Yeah, so the total based on the zoning code there’s a maximum of 20 % of
coverage on the lot and that is of structure so anything that you build on your lot can not exceed
20% of the total lot size. Your lot is .55 acres, or 23,958 sf is what your lot is so 20% of that
would be 4, 791 sf of built structures and that is not including the driveway or any of that but
that is the house, deck, pool, the shed and then any new structures that are built.
Ok, I understand.
Essentially what you have, your current lot coverage is just about at the
maximum you’re allowed so 1 am not trying to speak for the chairman but like you said, you
could get rid of the existing shed and you know, tell us you get rid of the existing shed or just
come back unfortunately next month and it is unfortunate that you have to do it that way bit it
has to be advertised even though I am sure everyone that’s here tonight to speak against it will
be back next month but unfortunately that’s the way it goes.
Ok. What’s the date in December.
It wil! be Tuesday the 10".
Ok the 10" and on our end, we don’t have to do anything this is all going to be
calculated and put in the paper and then will come back again and see if we can the variance.
Three variances it sounds like.
Yes, and you have already received one though so 2 more to go.
Ok sounds good.
Do we want to hold off on tonight’s until next month or............
It’s up to you guys.
I’m fine. Do you want to go it all together as one. Let’s just hold off.
EVERYONE SPEAKING AT THE SAME TIME.
RESOLUTION 24-0072 Short made a motion TABLED
APPLICATION TO DECEMBER 10, 2024
which was seconded by: Chris Centola.
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Pg. 309 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
(Corrine Volo read the fourth application)
Located at 430 Whiting Road.
Applicant Austin Goodwin is requesting an AREA VARIANCE to allow a front setback of 30
feet where the minimum required is 75 feet, associated with the construction of a 2,261 SF
single family residence on a 3.0-acre parcel having SBL# 049.03-1-34.2 located in an LL
Large Lot Single Family Residential District under Section 350-13 of the Code of the Town of
Webster.
Appearing before the board was Austin Goodwin, owner of 430 Whiting Road along with my
fiancé Caroline. The reason we are here tonight, as you already stated, to request a front
setback variance smaller than the one applicable to town code. Looking up at the screen you
can see that this is a 3 acre flag lot along Whiting Road and town code specifies that your front
setback for a flag lot is not typical of a normal property where it comes off of the right of way,
it comes off of the rear lot line of the property in front of you so off of the property in front of
me being 446 Whiting which is Mr. Schneider who is also here with me tonight. The front
setback starts from him rear property line. So, just to make it clear, when I’m talking about a 30
foot front setback, ] am not talking about a 30 foot front setback from Whiting Road I am
talking about a 700 plus foot setback from Whiting Road.
The reason that I am asking for this is because of the natural topography of the property itself .
Things that I stated in the statement of difficulty, number one being that this is not a self
created hardship the natural topography. Josh, if you don’t mind, keep going, right there. So,
the natural topography of this parcel is a central valley running right through the middle and
then just to the right side of that another steep hill with a peak and once you go down the back
side of that hill the far edge of this property is Webster Park. So, this property is not a flat lot
that is easy to build upon in a sense the only real logical place that I can place a single family
residence is where you see on here where it will be is the front of the house will be at the top of
the valley where it’s flat and the house will be a single story residence with a walk out
basement that goes down the hill and that would allow me to, based on where it is be a few feet
up from the low point of the valley where when we get freeze thaw and all the snow starts
melting you don’t want your house in that and the reason it has to be pushed a little bit farther
forward like that is the leech field that you see on the right side of the house. So, Whiting Road
doesn’t have all the utilities that a typical road does. There’s about a 1,250 ft gap on both sides
of the road where there is no water service and there 1s no sanitary sewer. So, the house ts
actually 410 just to the north side of this is the last house that has water service off Whiting
Road which means I can either pay the Monroe County Water Authority tens upon tens of
thousands of dollars to extend the main or I can go on a wel! like most people in this area have.
Pg. 310 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
In order to do that there is certain health code requirements that separate the well! from the
leech fields so on the left side of the house, 1 know you probably can’t see it but there’s a little
circle right there and that is where I’m proposing to put the well, at the top side of the hill up
stream from the leech field. That is a health code requirement, and I can’t change that, nor
would I want to. I don’t want my well downstream with my leech field. The leech field itself
also can’t be built in the valley because of during the spring when that becomes inundated from
snowmelt now it’s inundated and I’m going to back up my plumbing and that’s gong to cause a
whole mess of problems. So, the leech field has to be built as a tiered system on the side of the
hill. That leech field has separation requirements form property lines and that is why there is
an arrow right there on the north tippy corner of the leech field essentially that leech field is as
far to the right and as close to that little valley that I can possibly put it. It is also as close to the
house as [ can put it because health code requires me to have the septic tank, and the leech
fields a certain distance from the house in order to build this house that means that the house
has to move closer to the back rear lot line of Mr. Schneider’s property and that’s why I’m
asking for the 30 foot vs the
75. Now, in terms of all the other questions for statement of
difficulty essential character would this affect the character of the area. No, it’s a very sparse
single family residential where all the lots are at least 3 acres all covered in vast mature
vegetation, and I do not plan to change that in any way. In fact, by having the house closer up
I’m farther, I’m as far as I can possibly go to stay away from Webster Park. So, instead of
having the house way in the back corner by the trail 1 am trying to stay away from it. I want
people to enjoy that, and I also want to have my privacy from the park. In terms of no other
remedy without mass grading this 3 acre site and effectively filling in that valley and clear
cutting all the trees on the property to get the net cut fill there’s no other way for me to do it
without putting the house where it is where the front of the house at the top of the hill build it to
be a single story ranch and have it be a walk out basement vs a two-story house like many
others in the area. A couple reasons why I want that, I’d like to grow old in this house. I don’t
want to have stairs in 40 years and another sense is because of the property being on a hill. The
only way essentially to do it is to be a walk out basement style house.
In terms of significance to neighbors, the only neighbor that would be affected by granting this
variance is Mr. Schneider and that is why | brough him here today. Because this a one
dimensional movement the house is not getting any closer to the properties to the north than is
already allowed. It is not any closer to the property to the south or the east which is Webster
Park. The only person who is affected by this would be Mr. Schneider’s property and the
closest distance between this house and his is over 500 feet. The nearest neighbor in terms of
even just distance to this house whether this was granted or not is over 300 feet to the north
with vast mature vegetation between this house and all of the neighbors. So, during the middle
of summer no one can see each other anyway regardless if this house is here or back no one is
going to see it. Otherwise, this is probably the smallest presentation I have ever done for a
project since it’s a single family house, so | am here for any questions you have.
Pg. 31! November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Thank you that was helpful. My one question to you, is ] got why you situated
it in it’s current location. I took a quick sketch, and I rotated it 30 degrees and I was able to
pick up an additional 25 feet and keeping the building, the house in the same location. Is that
something that you are willing to consider is rotating the design you have to move the garage.
Ultimately what it does is pulls the garage back further away from the property line.
So, just to make sure that everybody understands, what you’re saying is take
that house as is................
Rotate it counter clockwise by about 25
So, you would be essentially asking that what happens instead is that the
house would get turned counterclockwise like this so the reason J did not do that is because of
the steep grade change that drops off into that valley. If you were to turn the house yes the main
portion of the house is still on the flat side of the hill but what you’ ve now done is that the back
side of the basement, the walk out portion is now on the portion of the hill where it's coming
down it’s not an open level ground in the back you have essentially one corner of the house at
the bottom but the entire house is a skew from the hill so that you don’t have anything out
back. I can’t put a patio out back for people to sit on, I can’t put anything other than just
having the land dive down to one corner of the house and 1 would have nothing usable.
You would have the whole, again, the whole flat side adjacent to the garage that
whole face would be facing downhill.
Yes, it would and the second reason why I didn’t want to do that is because
the more and more you turn this that is more and more fill that has to be placed just to put the
garage in and with this house being a walk out basement the only soil that I am going to get
without mass grading more the site and cutting down trees and getting that soil from
somewhere is by leaving il like this. The soil that gets dug out for the basement has to go
where the garage currently is in order to build a pad to put the garage in so if you turn that
farther and farther then the garage is farther and farther down the hill and now that’s
significantly more and more material that I have to bring in or import or cut down trees in
another part of the property to steal that soil in order to fill that pad area in order for me to put a
6 to 8 inch concrete pad in. So, it’s a much larger and 1 don’t want to say significance, it’s a
much larger construction project in order to turn that and put more of the garage over an area
that would have to have multiple and multiple feet of additional fill placed underneath it.
Which, if this were a large development project they’re masquerading the entire side anyway,
that’s not a big deal. For a single family residence, the only soil I’m getting is what gets dug
out for that basement and there is not much that would allow me to build a pad as is which
already has a 4-5 foot grade change from front to back. If I turn it, I now have to fill in front of
it and underneath it and I am not going to have enough soil to do that.
Thank you. Any other questions from the board.
Pg. 312 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
I watked the property again today just to reaffirm for myself. 1 remember there
being a ravine back there, but I was not...{ did not remember how significant the ravine was on
that lot.
From arial or from contour lines doesn’t look as bad as it as when you’ re
standing there.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that because it was so flat. The flat area where you have
the house is really the only logical location to put it on that parcel with the least amount of
damage............... BOARD MEMBER SPEAKING OVER
With respect to Mr. Shorts comments which might make it a little better from a
design standpoint J think from a practical standpoint based on the existing conditions out there [
think that works. It’s not a question of it not working it’s a question of personal preference of I
think it might be better if you rotated it, but I don’t think the necessary actions to rotate it is
significant enough to request him to do that.
Alright, I will open it up for public comment if anyone would like to speak for
or against.
Eric Schneider at 446 Whiting Road with my wife Karen and I will note that Katherine Kolich
is still coughing...LAUGHTER. Yes, we are the only affected neighbor in fact we are the only
neighbor, and we won’t even be able to see this development unless we’ re standing behind our
barn it’s just a....even in the summer you just won’t see it at all. So, there is no problem there.
I can tell you from having lived here for 30 years that valley will become a quagmire in the
spring it simply can’t be built on at that location and the leech field does have to be up on the
hillside itself in order to support that and it does drop off quite quickly there’s a good 13 foot
difference as it drops from the flat section down to with what my wife and I call the meadow.
So, there is not a whole lot of space there and you pretty much have to have the house running
parallel to the hill itself in order to have any sort of patio wall out basement thing like that and
it's almost going to be at the level of meadow floor by the time you get there so. There are a
lot of constraints there. You would have to push it all the way across the meadow floor and
within, well closer to Webster Park by 50 foot you'd basically be staring at the people on the
west loop as they walk through in the summer so not the best idea, so this is really the only
feasible location of a house given the constraints that you’ ve got and trying to keep it within a
reasonable budget. So, my wife Karen and I have discussed this, and I believe that Karen and
Mrs. Volo walked the property together along with the dog. Thanks for exercising him while I
was at work and basically, we are fully in agreement with position of the house and the
variance requested,
Thank you. Will bring it back to the board. Any other comments from the
board.
Pg. 313 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Have you done a perk test to ensure the septic system is good where you have it.
Yes. That perk test was done and that is why you see the amount of leech
fields that are there.
Just making sure.
RESOLUTION 24-0073 Michael Short made a motion for TYPE Tf SEQR
which was seconded by: Corrine Volo.
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
Chris Centola
The project doesn’t result in the undesirable change in the essential character of the neighborhood
and there would be no detriment to any adjacent properties if the variance is granted. The relief
sought by the variance is not achievable by other feasible method due to the existing contours of
both the valley and the flat area of the existing property . The variance is not substantial based on
the amount of property on the proximity to adjacent neighbors. The variance will not have an
adverse impact on the physical or environmental conditions in the neighborhood and it’s not self-
created because the flag Jot has already been subdivided and the topography and the wooded areas
were existing probably longer than the flag lot was created.
RESOLUTION 24-0075 Michael Short made a motion for an AREA
VARIANCE Located at 430 Whiting Road.
Applicant Austin Goodwin is requesting an
AREA VARIANCE to allow a front setback of
30 feet where the minimum required is 75 feet,
associated with the construction of a 2,261 SF
single family residence on a 3.0-acre parcel
having SBL# 049.03-1-34.2 located in an LL
Large Lot Single Family Residential District
under Section 350-13 of the Code of the Town of
Corrine Volo.
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Pg. 314 November !9, 2024 Zoning Meeting
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
CONDITIONS:
e The applicant must obtain all necessary governmental permits, including a Town
Building Permit.
e That one-year significant construction shall expire November 19, 2025.
(Corrine Volo read the fifth application)
Located at 867 Meadow Ridge Lane. Applicant
Chad Willardson is requesting AREA VARIANCES to allow a rear setback of 38 feet where the
minimum required is 50 feet associated with the construction of an addition on a 0.41-acre parcel
having SBL# 079.19-1-30 located in an R-3 Single Family Residential District under Section
350-12 of the Code of the Town of Webster.
Appearing before the board was Chad Willardson, Project Manager for Marshall Exterior and I
am representing the home owners, Kathy and Steve Buckner. We are looking to change the
setback from 50 feet to
38. We had a permit for a covered structure already and the
homeowners asked to enclose it. We are not changing the footprint what so ever, we’ re just
looking to have the setback changed.
Are you enclosing just the addition portion so not the existing deck that will
remain.
The existing deck is staying the same.
I don’t have any questions.
Based on the lot size and shape, there is no other option.
And there is a car dealership behind it.
Alright, ] will open it up to the public, which there is not so I will bring it back
to the board.
RESOLUTION 24-0074 Michael Short made a motion fora TYPE II SEQR
which was seconded by: Donald Hauza.
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Pg. 315 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
[
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
Chris Centola
2.
3.
na
aa
This request is not out of character in the neighborhood: Will not change essential character
of the neighborhood.
There will not be a detriment created to nearby properties: No detriment to nearby
properties
The benefit is not achievable by any other method: No other remedies based on the size
and configuration of the lot.
The benefit sought by the applicant is minimal
There are no adverse physical or environmental impacts to the site or neighborhood: Will
not have physical or environmental conditions of the general area.
The lot size with the current house and deck are there and
only spot to really put an addition.
This is not an undesirable change:
This request is not significant:
RESOLUTION 24-0075 Chris Centola made a motion to APPROVE THE
AREA VARIANCE Located at 867 Meadow
Ridge Lane. Applicant Chad Willardson is
requesting AREA VARIANCES to allow a rear
setback of 38 feet where the minimum required is
50 feet associated with the construction of an
addition on a 0.41-acre parcel having SBL# 079. 19-
1-30 located in an R-3 Single Family Residential
District under Section 350-12 of the Code of the
Town of Webster which was seconded by: Corrine
Volo.
CONDITIONS:
The applicant must obtain all necessary governmental permits, including a Town
Building Permit.
That one-year significant construction shall expire November 19, 2025.
VOTE:
Mr. Short AYE
Mrs. Volo AYE
Mr. Hauza AYE
Mr. Lagonor AYE
Mr. Centola AYE
Mr. Spampinato AYE
Pg. 316 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting
* Approved minutes for September 10, 2024 (VOLO/SHORT) and October 8, 2024
(VOLO/HAUZA)
e Since there is no further applications before the Board Michael Short adjourned tonight’s
meeting at 9:00 p.m.
[ ADMINISTRATIVE ITEM:
Rar as Ch yess
Corrine Volo, Secretary
Katherine Kolich, Recording Secretary
JAN 15°25 PH12:17
FILED WEBSTER TWN CLK
(ahons neManrr
L Pg. 317 November 19, 2024 Zoning Meeting