HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190504 Drambour residence Farley/Keniry Corr 6-24-19 Robert Farley & Kathleen Kenicy
29 Ren5onhur t Avenue
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518-281-8727
lune 24, 2019
Zoning Board of Appeals
City of Saratoga Springs
City Hall 474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
RE: #20190504 Drambour Residence (42 Newton Avenue)
Area Variance Application
To the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals:
We attended and spoke at the meeting on June 17th about the Area Variance application
submitted by our backdoor neighbor on. Newton Avenue.
As we and other neighbors said at the meeting,g w believe that this application should be a
Use Variance application. Setbacks aside, the bigger issues property use: 2-family for some
time now and arguably going to 3-family. The primary house appears to be a rental, while the
large, separate, converted garage is occupied by the owner (not meeting in any respect the
zoning ordinance definition of"temporary accessory dwelling" - therefore creating a 2 family
use in a single family zone). Another habitable structure has been built and appeared to be
occupied during the spring.
Our immediate concern relates to this new structure. Its referenced incidentally in the Area
Variance application as a shed that will be relocated. At two stories, finished and habitable, it
does not comply with the zoning ordinance definition of a "shed/accessory structure," it is
best characterized as a micro house.
We could address many points in either the current Area Variance Application or a
prospective Use Variance Application. Most importantly however, both ask whether granting
the variance would change/alter the character of the neighborhood, and the Area Variance
application goes further asking if it will "create a detriment to nearby properties." Regardless
of rental possibilities or where its sited on the property, the micro houses substantial in
size and visually obtrusive. Reactions on seeing it are uniformly negative: "What is that? It's
awful! What does it do to your property value?" We know that it is detrimental to our
property values and changes the character of the neighborhood.
Additionally, all of this can be viewed as self-created, most notably the micro house. There is
a solution to be found here, butts not in this application and it is not with the micro house
on the property. We ask that you deny the variance. Thank you for your attention to this
matter.
S* erely,
/ ' : '''. 0, A,
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Ro -rt Farley r Kathleen Ke ry