HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190029 Val-Kill Residence Correspondance 'Li 1,73i n 9
APR 2 9 2019
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April 26,2019 By
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Murray 1.and Christina Levith
34 Second St.
Saratoga Springs,New York 12866
Kenneth Kaplan and Zoning Board Members Re: 20190029
Zoning Board of Appeals
15 Vanderbilt Ave.
Saratoga Springs,New York 12866
Dear Mr.Kaplan:
We would like to clear up some things in Attorney Ferradino's letter of April 10 to th.e Zonij:ig Board . -- —
of Appeals. First of all,Mr. David Williams has not been hired as ail attorney to represent us;rather,
he is a neighbor like the rest of the various property owners who are opposed to a variance at 40
Second Street. We own 32,34(our residence),and 38 Second Street(adjacent to 40),and care about
our quiet and residential street All of the neighbors,whose properties abut the Val-Kill property,
and who spoke at the March 4 Zoning Board meeting,opposed the proposed variance because it does
not conform to the city's stated requirements as noted in Mr.Williams'letter to the Zoning Board.
The first paragraph of Ms.Ferradino's letter of April 10 to the Board notes the improvements made
to the 40 Second Street house. This,of course,has nothing at all to do with making the garage into a
residence. We are happy about the improvements to the house.
Ms. Ferradino notes,in her second paragraph,that a residence inside the garage will not change the
structures on the property. What is inside the garage will,however,change the human traffic and
presumably add to the vehicles in the area. The current tenants at 40 Second have three cars. If a
new resident or residents have one or two more vehicles,there would be four or five cars and trucks
on or about the small property lot.
As to the argument that Ms. Ferradino makes about the so-called"cottage"on the property,she is
wrong. It is what it is: it sits at the end of a driveway,it has the shape of a garage,and has a garage
door facing Second Street. Whatever is inside is illegal and has been designated so by the city.
Moreover,two crowded residential structures on a lot as small as the 40 Second Street property
would be unique on the street. It would change the neighborhood's character.
The question of responsibility for the misunderstanding by Val-Kill as to the status of the garage
when they purchased the property is clear. Their real-estate professional and their lawyer may have
misled them (or they may have rushed into a transaction before all the critical information was in)
and Val-Kill should take this matter up with the persons or companies involved. When making an
investment as large as the purchase of a property,it is obvious that one should check things out
carefully. Neighbors should not bear the brunt of incompetency. Finally,the personal attack on Mr.
Williams by Ms. Ferradino is uncalled for.
Sincerely,
A 4-
Murray J.and Christina Levith