HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190834 BYRNE RAMP ADDITION Application ENGINEERING AMERICA CO .
76 WASHINGTON ST . SARATOGA SPRINGS , NY 1 2 8 6 6
5 1 8 / 5 8 7 - 1 3 4 0 5 1 8 / 5 8 0 - 9 7 8 3 ( FAX )
TRANSMITTAL SHEET
TO: FROM:
Zoning Board of Appeals Tonya Yasenchak
COMPANY: DATE:
City of Saratoga Springs AUGUST 20,2019
FAX NUMBER: TOTAL NO.OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER:
1 ZBA Application&$600 application fee
PHONE NUMBER: SENDER'S REFERENCE NUMBER:
RE: YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER:
Byrne—Ramp Addition
#203 Church St,Saratoga Springs,NY
❑ URGENT IZ[FOR REVIEW ❑ PLEASE COMMENT ❑ PLEASE REPLY ❑AS REQUESTED
Dear Zoning Board of Appeals,
Engineering America Co. respectfully submits the attached ZBA application for review of
area variances related to a proposed ADA compliant accessible ramp addition to the existing
building at 203 Church St. in Saratoga Springs,NY.
We respectfully request to be placed on the September 9' agenda for review.
We thank you for your time and consideration.
Please contact my office with any questions or if additional information is required.
Thank you for your time and cooperation.
Tonya Yasenchak,PE
Enc.
ENGINEERING AMERICA CO .
76 WASHINGTON ST . SARATOGA SPRINGS , NY 1 2 8 6 6
5 1 8 / 5 8 7 - 1 3 4 0 5 1 8 / 5 8 0 - 9 7 8 3 ( FAX )
TRANSMITTAL SHEET
TO: FROM:
Zoning Board of Appeals Tonya Yasenchak
COMPANY: DATE:
City of Saratoga Springs August 20,2019
FAX NUMBER: TOTAL NO.OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER:
1
PHONE NUMBER: SENDER'S REFERENCE NUMBER:
RE: YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER:
Byrne—203 Church St.
Saratoga Springs,NY
❑ URGENT IZ[FOR REVIEW ❑ PLEASE COMMENT ❑ PLEASE REPLY ❑AS REQUESTED
City of Saratoga Zoning Board Members,
Engineering America Co. herein would like to provide coverage&permeability information
regarding the Byrne ramp addition at 203 Church St.in Saratoga Springs,NY. We have
rereviewed the coverages of the garage and house (with roof overhangs)without the covered
walkway and have outlined them below.
Area Calculations:
Total Lot Size: 8,215 sq.ft. (+/-)
Coverage&Permeability:
Main House with Roofs&Steps: 1596 sq.ft. = 19.4%
New Ramp: 140 sq.ft. = 1.7%
Garage: 470 sq.ft. = 5.7%
Driveway,Parking&Sidewalks: 1589 sq.ft= 19.3%
Total Coverage: 3,795 sq.ft. (+/-) = 46.2%
Permeability: 53.8%permeable > 30%min.required
Thank you for your time and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Tonya Yasenchak,PE
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ORATED
APPLICATION FOR:
APPEAL TO THE ZONING BOARD FOR AN
INTERPRETATION, USE VARIANCE,AREA VARIANCE AND/OR VARIANCE EXTENSION
APPLICANT(S)* OWNER(S) (If not applicant) ATTORNEY/AGENT
Sharon Byrne Agent: Engineering America Co.
Name
454 Maple Ave. Tonya Yasenchak, 76 Washington St.
Address
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518/527-4914 518 / 587-1340
Phone
sharonebyrne@howardhanna.com tonyay@nycap.rr.com
Email
*An applicant must be the property owner, lessee,or one with an option to lease or purchase the property in question.
Applicant's interest in the premises: 21 Owner 0 Lessee 0 Under option to lease or purchase
PROPERTY INFORMATION
203 Church St. 165 50 1 70-
I. Property Address/Location: Tax Parcel No.: - -
(for example: 165.52—4—37)
1972 +1- unknown
2. Date acquired by current owner: 3.Zoning District when purchased:
Vacant/Previous Dental Office OMB-2
4. Present use of property: 5. Current Zoning District:
6. Has a previous ZBA application/appeal been filed for this property?
Yes (when? 2006 For what?25.8'x 37'addition )
IZ No (not constructed)
7. Is property located within (check all that apply)?: 0 Historic District 121 Architectural Review District
- — - - - - E 500'of a State Park,city boundary,or county/state highway?8. Brief description of proposed action:
Addition of 4.5'wide ADA compliant wood ramp to provide accessibility from parking area to existing elevated wood front porch
9. Is there a written violation for this parcel that is not the subject of this application? 0 Yes gi No
10. Has the work, use or occupancy to which this appeal relates already begun? Yes No
I I. Identify the type of appeal you are requesting (check all that apply):
0 INTERPRETATION (p. 2) 0 VARIANCE EXTENSION(p.2) 0 USE VARIANCE(pp.3-6) 0 AREA VARIANCE (pp.6-7)
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ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS APPLICATION FORM PAGE 2
FEES:Make checks payable to the"Commissioner of Finance". Fees are cumulative and required for each request below.
❑ Interpretation $ 500
O Use variance $1,000
2IArea variance
-Residential use/property: $ 200
-Non-residential use/property: $ 600
O Extensions: $ 150
INTERPRETATION—PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING(add additional information as necessary):
. Identify the section(s)of the Zoning Ordinance for which you are seeking an interpretation:
Section(s)
2. How do you request that this section be interpreted?
3. If interpretation is denied,do you wish to request alternative zoning relief? EYes UNo
4. If the answer to#3 is "yes,"what alternative relief do you request?0 Use Variance 0 Area Variance
EXTENSION OF A VARIANCE--PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING(add additional information as necessary):
I. Date original variance was granted: 2. Type of variance granted? 0 Use 0 Area
3. Date original variance expired:
5. Explain why the extension is necessary.Why wasn't the original timeframe sufficient?
When requesting an extension of time for an existing variance,the applicant must prove that the circumstances upon which the original
variance was granted have not changed. Specifically demonstrate that there have been no significant changes on the site, in the
neighborhood,or within the circumstances upon which the original variance was granted:
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ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS APPLICATION FORM PAGE 6
AREA VARIANCE—PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING(add additional information as necessary):
Article 2,Table 3:Area&Bulk
The applicant requests relief from the following Zoning Ordinance article(s)
Dimensional Requirements From To
Min.Yard Setback-Side(West) 15.0' 4.1'
(10.9'difference=73%variance requested)
Min.Yard Setback-Total Sides 30.0' 10.3'
(19.7'difference=66%variance requested)
Min.Yard Setback-Front(South) 40.0 17.0'
(23.0'difference =58%variance requested)
Other:
To grant an area variance,the ZBA must balance the benefits to the applicant and the health,safety,and welfare of the neighborhood and
community,taking into consideration the following:
I. Whether the benefit sought by the applicant can be achieved by other feasible means. Identify what alternatives to the variance have
been explored (alternative designs,attempts to purchase land,etc.) and why they are not feasible.
The benefit sought is to provide ADA compliant access to the office by means of a structural ramp addition.
The following alternatives were explored:
a)Relocation of the ramp closer to the main building to reduce the variance is difficult as it would not align with the parking area
for access. Also, location closer to the main building may cause issues with roof drainage and snow between the building and
ramp.
b) Relocation of the ramp along the back of the main building would reduce the number of variances required by eliminating the
required front setback variance. However,the building interior layout is configured for the main access to be from-the front porch.
Significant interior renovations (relocation of interior stairs)would be required to allow for exterior access from the rear of the
building.
c) A HC lift was reviewed but not considered due to cost and lack of consistency with the architecture of the main building. A
ramp may be blended better to the landscape and is not required to be covered.
2. Whether granting the variance will produce an undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood or a detriment to nearby
properties. Granting the variance will not create a detriment to nearby properties or an undesirable change in the neighborhood
character for the following reasons:
Granting the variance should not produce an undesirable change in the character of the neighborhood:
1 • 1 - ••11-1 • - • 1- - _ •#r •• - - S 1• 0 ID.- -- 1 ..00-011 • '.
proposed ramp is minor in comparison of scale to the Hospital complex.
b) The ramp is designed to be consistent in scale with the existing building and buildings adjacent to the East. Furthermore,the
ramp design must be approved by the City Design Review Commission for it's proposed architectural character.
c) The ramp location provides better circulation from the parking area to the building to the main entry along Church St.
d) The height of the ramp rail will only be 36-42", much less than a full wall or roof covered structure. The variance will have a
minor visual impact.
* rr 1- • .. -1 .• ., • • ••" V 1-1-1 •" •r i, - 1 - - • ••"'' • " T1'
minimal as it directs pedestrian traffic on the project site and not on the existing adjacent lot sidewalk.
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ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS APPLICATION FORM PAGE 7
3. Whether the variance is substantial. The requested variance is not substantial for the following reasons:
The variances requested appear substantial due to the pre-existing I non-conforming nature of the lot size and main building:
a) The required lot width in this zoning district is 100' and the pre-existing lot is 50'. The lot width being 50' less than that required
reduces the substantiality of the variances requested. Lots to the East and South of this project site are very similar.
b) The pre-existing West side setback is approx. 12.0' instead of the 15' required. The new ramp is located 8'closer to the
adjacent parking lot than what currently exists. This is not substantial. The East side yard dimension is 6.2'and is not proposed
to change.
c) The porch of the main house is located at 15.2'from the front property line and was built in 1902. The proposed ramp is
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the variance is not substantial in comparison.
d) The ramp area is proposed to be 140 sq.ft.;only 1.7%of the site. The minor nature of the proposed addition is not substantial
enough to trigger Site Plan review.
4. Whether the variance will have adverse physical or environmental effects on neighborhood or district. The requested variance will not
have an adverse physical or environmental effect on the neighborhood or district for the following reasons:
The variances requested should not have any adverse physical or environmental effects on the neighborhood or district:
a) The ramp is located so to contain runoff from the roof and to contain snow between the building and ramp.
b) The ramp is located so as to encourage pedestrian traffic directly onto the project site, reducing pedestrian travel on the
adjacent property sidewalk.
c) The construction of the ramp is proposed to be on piers which would not require any major excavation.
d) No large or significant trees are proposed to be removed for this project.
e) The ramp slope drains onto the project site and not towards adjacent lots.
f) The overall Principal Building coverage, including the ramp is 21.1%,well under the 30% max.coverage allowed.
g) The permeability of the lot is 53%;well above the 30% min. required.
5. Whether the alleged difficulty was self-created(although this does not necessarily preclude the granting of an area variance).Explain
whether the alleged difficulty was or was not self-created:
The alleged difficulty of siting an ADA compliant ramp on a pre-existing 1 non-conforming lot for a building that was built in 1902 is
not self created.
The building was previously used for a Dental office during a time when a ramp was not required. The Owner is proposing the
building be used for her daughter's professional law office. The associated renovations require accessibility to be met for the
currcnt Building Calc. Neither of thcs-c difficulties arc self created.
Revised 01/2019
ra
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS APPLICATION FORM PAGE 8
DISCLOSURE
Does any City officer,employee,or family member thereof have a financial interest(as defined by General Municipal Law Section 809)in
this application? 0 No o Yes If"yes",a statement disclosing the name,residence and nature and extent of this interest must be filed
with this application.
APPLICANT CERTIFICATION
1/we,the property owner(s),or purchaser(s)/lessee(s) under contract, of the land in question, hereby request an appearance before
the Zoning Board of Appeals.
By the signature(s) attached hereto, I/we certify that the information provided within this application and accompanying
documentation is,to the best of my/our knowledge,true and accurate. I/we further understand that intentionally providing false or
misleading information is grounds for immediate denial of this application.
Furthermore,1/we hereby authorize the members of the Zoning Board of Appeals and designated City staff to enter the property
associated with this application for purposes of conducting any necessary site inspections relating to this appeal.
2
r9
`..�..� Date: /9//q
(applicant signs e)
Date: elP9,5
(ap jicant signature)
If applicant is not the currently the owner of the property,the current owner must also sign.
Owner Signature: Date:
Owner Signature: Date:
Revised 01/2019