HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200584 Olmsted Single-Family Porch Addition NOD 4Keith Kaplan, Chair
Gallagher,CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS
Brad Galla Vice Chair
Terrance Gallogly
5 'f ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Cheryl Grey
Matthew Gutch
CITY HALL-474 BROADWAY
• Christopher Mills
.�� SARATOGA SPRINGS,N EW YORK 12866
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:Me�.; ', Gage Simpson
� �-�. PH)5 18-587-3550 Fx)5 18-580-9480 Kathleen O'Connor,alternate
, Kathleen O'Connor,alternate
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#20200584
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF
BETSY AND PETER OLMSTED
53 GREENFIELD AVE,
SARATOGA SPRINGS NY 12866
from the determination of the Building Inspector involving the premises at 53 Greenfield Ave in the City of
Saratoga Springs, New York being tax parcel number 165.35-2-64 on the Assessment Map of said City.
The applicant having applied for an area variance under the Zoning Ordinance of said City to permit the
addition of a front entry porch in an Urban Residential I (UR-I) District and public notice having been duly given
of a hearing on said application held on the 28th day of September through the 19th day of October, 2020.
In consideration of the balance between benefit to the applicant with detriment to the health, safety and welfare
of the community, I move that the following area variance for the following amount of relief:
TYPE OF REQUIREMENT DISTRICT DIMENSIONAL PROPOSED RELIEF REQUESTED
REQUIREMENT
MINIMUM FRONT YARD SETBACK 30' 15.8' 14.2' or 47%
As per the submitted plans or lesser dimensions, be approved for the following reasons:
I. The applicant has demonstrated this benefit cannot be achieved by other means feasible to the
applicant. Per the applicant, there are no good locations on the property for deliveries to be placed and
protected from the elements. The applicant states that the only other options are to cut down some
trees that lead to the existing front door or leave the garage door open. The addition of another entry
porch will mitigate the need for these alternatives.
2. The applicant has demonstrated that granting this variance will not create an undesirable change in
neighborhood character or detriment to nearby properties. The proposed porch is 6 feet by 12 feet
and, per the applicants, is designed to fit in with the current design of the house as well as fit within
several existing trees that will decrease visibility of the porch to the neighborhood.
3. The proposed variance could be considered substantial, however, the impact is mitigated by the
positioning of the house. The Board notes the residence is an older structure positioned in a diagonal
fashion to Greenfield Avenue, causing the side of the house to be adjacent to the street. As a result, the
pre-existing, non-conforming "front" of the house is within 2 feet of the front property line. The
proposed porch extends off the side of the house an additional six feet, but given the diagonal
orientation of the house on the property, this porch would be 15.8 feet from the front property line.
The Board finds that the proposal's 15.8 feet setback is further from the property line than the corner
of the residence, and enhances the functionality of the house without incremental impact.
4. The proposed variance will not have any adverse physical or environmental effects on the
neighborhood. The proposed porch is minimal in size, does not have any plumbing, and does not make
a significant impact to the lot permeability.
5. The alleged difficulty is considered self-created insofar as the applicant desires to build the porch.
However,this is not necessarily fatal to the application.
Adopted by the following vote:
AYES: 4 (K. Kaplan, M. Gutch, C. Mills, G. Simpson)
NAYES: 2 (T. Gallogly, C. Grey)
Dated: October 19, 2020
This variance shall expire 18 months following the filing date of such decision unless the necessary building
permit has been issued and actual construction begun as per 240-8.5.1.
I hereby certify the above to be a full,true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Zoning Board
of Appeals of the City of Saratoga Springs on the date above mentioned, six members of the Board being
present.
SIGNATURE: 10/26/2020
CHAIR DATE RECEIVED BY ACCOUNTS DEPT.