HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230014 31 West Harrison Area Variance NOD �TOG,4 CITY OF SARATOGA Gage Simpson,Chair
�g �A Brad Gallagher,Vice Chair
Emily Bergmann SPRINGS Cheryl Grey
CIO
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Matthew Brendan Dailey
LJ
µ`
CITY HALL-474 BROADWAY
JohnDaley,Alternate
ccRPo�ASE� ��1h SARATOGA SPRINGs,NEW YORK 12866 Alice Smith,Alternate
518-587-3550
W W W.SARATOGA-SPRINGS.ORG
#20230014
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF
Jason Gerasia
217 Elm Street
Saratoga Springs NY 12866
from the determination of the Building Inspector involving the premises at 31 W Harrison in the City of Saratoga
Springs,New York being tax parcel number 165.50-2-28 on the Assessment Map of said City.
The applicant having applied for an area variance under the UDO of said City to permit the conversion of the
existing historic carriage house into a second principal single-family residence within the Urban Residential-3 (UR-
3) District and public notice having been duly given of a hearing on application held on February 27t1i and March
13th,2023
In consideration of the balance between benefit to the applicants 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 PROPOSED RELIEF REQUESTED
DIMENSIONAL
REQUIREMENT
SECOND PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE ON A PARCEL WITH A NOT ALLOWED 1 100%
LEGAL MULTIFAMILY-
Article- 8.4.GG.2.a
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. Currently the
property has a legal multifamily unit, a shed that houses a commercial woodworking shop due to a
previously granted variance in 1948, and a historic carriage house that is in need of repair.
The applicant stated he believes the carriage house was built between 1878 and 1884. The applicant also
has stated his desire to live in the restored carriage house and noted that this is an interior project only and
will keep the historic footprint of the carriage house. Per the applicant,the carriage house is approximately
40 feet by 30 feet and is two stories or approximately 2400 square feet total. The Preservation Society sent
a letter of support for this project.
In exchange for being granted a second principal structure variance for 31 W Harrison,the applicant is
willing to surrender the previously granted commercial use variance for the woodworking shop. The
Board believes this is necessary to reduce the potential intensity going from the previously permitted
commercial use to a less intense single family residential use.
2. The applicant has demonstrated that granting this variance will not produce an undesirable change in
neighborhood character or detriment to the nearby properties. The carriage house is in need of repair and
updates and this will visually improve the appearance of the carriage house at street level. Additionally,
city sewer and water lines will be tapped in to and the applicant has provided an eleven(11) space parking
plan for the property.
Page 1 of 2
3. Although the variance is substantial at 100%this is due to the fact that the applicant wishes to turn the
historic carriage house into a second principal structure.
4. The Board finds this variance will not have an adverse physical or environmental effect on the
neighborhood.Additionally,with the gravel driveway,district permeability requirements will be met.
5. The alleged difficulty is self-created insofar as the applicant desires to convert the carriage house into a
second principal structure,but this is not necessarily fatal to the application.
Note: All building changes and modifications shall be in accordance with the standards outlined Article-
8.4.GG.2, except for Article- 8.4.GG.2.a
Condition:
This variance is conditioned on the voluntary surrender of the previously granted commercial use variance granted
October 06, 1948.This variance shall revoke the previous variance when the applicant applies for a building permit.
It is so moved,dated: March 13th 2023
It is so moved.
Dated: March 13,2023
Passes by the following votes:
AYES: 5 (G. Simpson, B. Gallagher, C. Grey, B. Dailey, A. Smith,)
RECUSED: 0
NAYES:
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 the Unified
Development Ordinance.
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, five
members of the Board being present.
SIGNATURE: 03/15/2023
AV CHAIR DATE RECEIVED BY
ACCOUNTS
DEPT.
Page 2 of 2