HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250457 3 Second St Area Variance NODPage 1 of 2
CITY OF SARATOGA
SPRINGS
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CITY HALL - 474 BROADWAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK 12866
518-587-3550
WWW.SARATOGA-SPRINGS.ORG
Gage Simpson, Chair
Brendan Dailey, Vice Chair
Shafer Gaston
Amanda Demma
Jonah Cohen
Otis Maxwell
Chris LaPointe
Chris Maslak (Alternate)
Robert West (Alternate)
#20250457
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF
Joyce Bouyea
3 Second Street
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
From the determination of the Building Inspector involving the premises at 3 Second Street in the City of
Saratoga Springs, New York being tax parcel number 165.28-1-16, in the Urban Residential-1 (UR-1)
District on the Assessment Map of said City.
This being an application for an area variance under the UDO of said City to permit a sunroom addition
to the rear of an existing single-family residence, and public notice having been duly given of a hearing
on said application held from June 23, 2025 to July 14, 2025.
In consideration of the balance between benefit to the applicant 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
DIMENSIONAL
REQUIREMENT
PROPOSED RELIEF REQUESTED
TOTAL LOT COVERAGE 28% 32% 4% OR 14% RELIEF
REAR YARD SETBACK 30’ 24’ 6’ OR 20% RELIEF
As per the submitted plans or lesser dimensions, be approved for the following reasons:
1. Achievability by Other Means: The applicant has demonstrated this benefit cannot be
achieved by other means feasible to the applicant. The applicant would like to add a sunroom
addition to the rear of their residence, which is located on a pre-existing non-conforming
substandard lot. Due to the undersized nature of the lot, the applicant cannot construct a
sunroom that meets their needs without exceeding the district requirement for total lot
coverage. Additionally, site constraints prevent the applicant from constructing the sunroom in
an alternative location that would avoid further encroachment onto the rear yard setback. The
Board notes that there is no adjoining land available for purchase.
2. Undesirable Change: The applicant has demonstrated that granting this variance will not
create an undesirable change in neighborhood character or detriment to nearby properties. The
proposed design will extend out into the rear yard and will not be visible from the street.
Furthermore, the addition would not extend further than the existing rear setback. The
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applicants provided numerous examples of comparable nearby properties with similar lot
coverages above the 28% requirement as well as properties with similar encroachments into
rear yard setbacks, none of which pose a detriment to other nearby properties.
3. Substantiality: The Board notes that the requested variances are not considered substantial,
and it is further mitigated as per the discussion above.
4. Adverse Effects: This variance will not have a significant adverse physical or environmental
effect on the neighborhood or district. Permeability will meet the district requirement.
5. Self-Created Difficulty: The alleged difficulty is self-created insofar as it is motivated by the
applicant’s desire to construct a sunroom addition to the rear of their residence, but this is not
necessarily fatal to the application.
It is so moved.
Dated: July 14, 2025
Passes by the following votes:
AYES: 6 (G. Simpson, B. Dailey, J. Cohen, S. Gaston, O. Maxwell, A. Demma)
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, seven
members of the Board being present.
SIGNATURE: 08/15/2025
CHAIR DATE RECEIVED BY
ACCOUNTS DEPT.