HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250456 65 Phila 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)
#20250456
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF
Patricia and Christopher Hays
65 Phila Street
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga Springs Building Inspector has determined that certain
application involving the premises at 65 Phila Street in the City of Saratoga Springs, New York
(“City”) being tax parcel number 165.68-1-21 is denied (the “Zoning Denial”) pursuant to Section 3.1
F. of the Unified Development Ordinance of City (“UDO”).
WHEREAS, the Applicant appealing such Zoning Denial, has applied for an area variance under
the UDO of the City to permit the construction of an addition to an existing single-family residence
and a detached garage in the Urban Residential-4 (UR-4) District and public notice having been duly
given of a hearing on said application held on June 23 and July 14, 2025.
WHEREAS, in consideration of the balance between benefit to the applicants with detriment to
the health, safety, and welfare of the community, the Applicant has requested the following area
variances for the following amount of relief:
Type of Requirement District
Requirement
Proposed Relief
Requested
Maximum combined building
coverage
40% 51% 11% (27.5%)
NOW, THEREFORE, as per the submitted plans or lesser dimensions, be APPROVED for the
following reasons:
1. Undesirable Change. The Applicant has demonstrated that granting this variance would not
create an undesirable change in neighborhood character and would not create a detriment to
nearby properties. The applicant provided numerous examples of nearby and adjacent
properties with comparable coverages including some with significantly greater coverage
amounts. The Board notes that impermeability will not exceed district requirements.
2. Achievability by Other Means. The Applicant has demonstrated that this benefit cannot be
achieved by other means feasible to Applicant. The applicant would like to construct an
addition to a single-family dwelling and a detached garage which together would exceed the
maximum building coverage in the district. The applicant notes that upper-story programming
cannot be extended to reduce the combined coverage without impacting the historic character
of the property according to the DRB. The Board notes that there is no adjacent land available
for purchase.
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3. Substantiality. The Board notes that while the requested variance may be considered
substantial, the substantiality is mitigated by the factors described above.
4. Adverse Effect or Impact. The variance will not have a significant adverse physical or
environment 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 an addition to the residence and a detached garage, but this is
not necessarily fatal to the application.
Note: DRB issued a favorable advisory opinion on June 25.
Dated: July 14, 2025
Failed to pass by the following votes:
AYES: 2 (J. Cohen, A. Demma,)
NAYS: 4 (G. Simpson, B. Dailey, S. Gaston, O. Maxwell)
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:
CHAIR