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Home My WebLink About20250239 36 Hyde St Area Variance Public Comment (14)TO: Zoning Board of Appeals Members RE: 36 Hyde Street Variance Request DATE: July 14th, 2025 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Dear ZBA members, Thank you for the opportunity for allowing continued comment and discussion on the 36 Hyde Street matter. Below is an overhead photo of the property, a strategic omission from the original application in which a description/photo of the area of variance is requested. You can see why as it provides a clear picture of just how cramped the property is, and how close the garage is to both adjacent properties - just 5 feet from 17 Birch. And it helps provide a visual understanding of why the Building Inspector requested a zoning compliance study for impermeability in his second denial last month. There are zero comps for a garage with a full bathroom on the second ﬂoor that exists ﬁve feet from a fence because it is a ﬁre hazard. The neighbors hope the board will continue to uphold this critical UR-2 Zoning law by not creating a comp, which would without question release the proverbial ﬂoodgates and with this new precedent, the board will be overwhelmed with requests for turning garages into living units in UR-2 districts. Character change is already happening in our neighborhood, largely thanks to this builder. He has also brought ecological damage in the form of never-ending runoff water from tapping into an aquifer when he built the property. He builds irresponsibly, with zero consideration for his neighbors and his neighborhood. Instead he spreads lies about us to his new clients, in order to cover his own egregious behavior, and tells us we should be grateful for our increased property values. This request has now been rejected twice, and is on its face egregious . Continued debate about a full bathroom on the second ﬂoor is stonewalling, and a waste of this extremely busy board’s time. Especially because to this third-party observer, the issue appears to be a very expensive and unfortunate misunderstanding, miscommunication, or misrepresentation during the sale of the home of permissible zoned uses for this garage. See attached for how home was advertised during the Showcase of Homes in 2021. Another issue of which the board should be aware of is that there is a water diversion that runs from behind 36 Hyde St. through the side yard of 13 Birch St. and empties into a specially- created storm drain on Birch St. (middle photo) The diversion was created when builder tapped into an aquifer during 36 Hyde construction. Owners of 17 Birch still don’t know who to call when it needs maintenance and leaks into their yard. There is also a drainage issue at the new Witt house across from 17 Birch. Huge puddles when it rains (bottom photo). Both photos from June 10, 2025. Please don’t grant a variance for any construction projects at this location, much less one involving water and plumbing. Thank you for your time and consideration.     36 Hyde Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 This unique property is the builder’s personal home designed to show how a smaller home can live big in an urban neighborhood. The builder chose a classic carriage house exterior style with an indoor twist: a contemporary interior we call “euro fresh.” The gracious ﬁrst ﬂoor ﬂows through an open-style kitchen-dining room-family room. The dining room opens up to a large screened-in porch and back patio. The screened porch features infrared heaters and ceiling fans. The second ﬂoor features two bedroom en suites and a convenient laundry room. The lower level comprises a guest suite, yoga, cycling, and golf simulator room, as well as a family room with a walk-in wine room. Home Details 3,662 Square Feet | 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms Unique Features •Gourmet kitchen with a custom window seat, Italian limestone, and plaster walls and ceiling •Master bath with a view. Steam shower, soaking tub, heated ﬂoors •Ample closets throughout   •Super entertainment area in the lower level with wine room, family room, and golf simulator •Detached garage with potential to ﬁnish the second ﬂoor as a home ofﬁce or in-law suite Energy Efﬁciency, Green Technology, ETC •Net Zero Home •13KW Solar System installed by Kassleman Solar •Crestron Smart Home 4. Carrier HVAC Green Speed System, air to air heat exchange, electric heat pump fueled by solar  