HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250524 17 Tommy Luther 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)
#20250524
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF
Lisa & Mark Larkin
17 Tommy Luther Drive
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
from the determination of the Building Inspector involving the premises at 17 Tommy Luther Drive in the City of Saratoga
Springs, New York being tax parcel number 177.16-2-19, in the Suburban Residential (SR) District on the Assessment Map
of said City.
This being an application for an area variance under the UDO of said City to permit the expansion of an existing porch on
an existing single-family residence, and public notice having been duly given of a hearing on said application held on
September 15, 2025.
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 DIMENSIONAL
REQUIREMENT PROPOSED RELIEF REQUESTED
REAR YARD SETBACK 30’ 15.3’ 14.7’ OR 49% RELIEF
As per the submitted plans or lesser dimensions, be approved for the following reasons:
1. Achievability by Other Means: The applicants have demonstrated this benefit cannot be achieved by other
means feasible to the applicants. The applicants would like to expand their existing covered porch to create a
screened-in porch. The applicants considered other design options, but the proposed location was deemed
most desirable due to the location of the existing porch, the existing patio, and the back corner of the
residence.
2. Undesirable Change: The applicants have demonstrated that granting this variance will not create an
undesirable change in neighborhood character or detriment to nearby properties. Relative to the existing
structure, the applicants’ proposed addition would encroach only 4 feet farther into the rear yard setback.
The Board notes that there are other nearby properties with comparable rear yard setbacks. The Board also
notes that the addition will not be visible from the street and will be only partially visible to one adjacent
neighbor, whom the Board notes has expressed approval of the proposal.
3. Substantiality: The Board notes that the requested variance may be considered substantial, but this is
mitigated by the factors described 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 applicants’ desire
to expand their existing covered porch to create a screened-in porch, but this is not necessarily fatal to the
application.
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Dated: September 15, 2025
Passes by the following vote:
AYES: 7 (G. Simpson, B. Dailey, S. Gaston, O. Maxwell, J. Cohen, A. Demma, C.
LaPointe)
NAYS: 0
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